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APPLETON'S  ILLUSTRATED  JIAILWAY  GUIDE 


IS    TIIK    OFFIflAL 


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IT   CONTAINS 


A  LARGE  STEEL  PLATE  MAP,  representing  tlio  Railways  in  actual  oporation 
througliout  the  United  States  and  the  Canadas. 

OVER  SEVENTY  MAPS  delineating  the  most  important  Railways  througliout 
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nati, St.  Louis,  Chicago,  Detroit,  Toledo,  Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Niagara  Falls,  Roches- 
ter, Albany,  &c.,  &c,    "..  '■        '    ■      . 

A  TIME  INDICATOR,  showing  tho  difftlrence  of  tiiiio  between  the  different  cities 
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THE    BOOK 

OF    THE 

§xai  ^ailluair  Ctlcbrations 


OF    1867, 


EMBRACING  A  FULL  ACCOl'XT  OF  THE  OPENING  OF  THE 

OHIO  &  MISSISSIPPI,  AND   THE   MARIETTA  &  CINCINNATI   RAILPvOADS, 

AND  THE  NORTHWESTERN  VIRGINIA  BRANCH  OF  THE 

BALTIMORE  AND  OHIO  RAILROAD, 


HISTORIES  AND   DESCRIPTIONS   OF   THE  SAME; 

AND    AN 

ACCOUNT  OF  THE   SUBSEQUENT  EXCURSION 

TO  BALTIMORE,  WASHINGTON  AND  NORFOLK, 

AND    THE     EECEPTIOXS    AND    EXTERTAINMEXTS     THERE    OF    THE    STATE 

AUTHORITIES     OF     OHIO,    AND    THE    MUNICIPAL    REPRESEX- 

TATIVES  OF  ST.  LOUIS,  CINCINNATI  AND  CIIILLICOTHE. 

By  AVM.  PRESCOTtJ  smith. 

WITH     NUMEROUS     ILLUSTRATIONS. 
FIRST    EDITION. 

NEW    YORK: 
D.  APPLETON  &  CO.,  346  and  348  Broadway. 

1858. 


,VP 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-eight. 

By  WILLIAM  PEESCOTT  SMITH, 

In  the  clerk's  office  of  the  U.  S.  District  Court  of  Maryland. 


CONTENTS. 


Part  Jirst. 

I. — General  Preface. 
II. — Inteoduction. 
III. — History  op  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railway. 

1.  Its  Origin  by  Philip  E.  Thomas,  in  1826. 

2.  Serious  Legislative  Struggles— Washington  Branch  Road  built,  1834. 
8.  Finished  to  Harper's  Ferry— President  Thomas  retires,  1836. 

4.  Hon.  Louis  McLane,  President— Open  to  Cumberland,  1842. 

5.  Hon.  Thos.  Swann,  President— Completed  to  Wheeling,  1853. 

6.  Wm.  G.  Harrison  and  Chauncy  Brooks,  Presidents— Various  Connections 

mninleted.  niifl   the  Riiad   r.iiiirHv  <lpv..lfinfif1   tn  it.-;  nrpi«».nt.  nosit.inn 


NOTICE.  — Second  Edition. 

In  consequence  of  the  unexpected  demand  for  the  "  Railway  Cele- 
brations of  1857"  exhausting  the  large  edition  now  published,  a  sec- 
ond and  still  larger  edition  will  be  issued  immediately. 

The  Author  requests  his  friends  and  others  who  may  read  the  first 
edition,  to  advise  him  at  once  of  any  errors  in  names  that  may  be 
found  in  the  volume,  that  they  may  be  corrected  in  the  next  edition. 

Address^ 

"W.  P.    SMITH, 

Baltimoee,  Md." 
N.  B— The  Price  of  the  fdtiire  Editions  will  be  $1  50  per  copy. 


%  Historical  Sketches  of  the  Little  Miami  and  the  Central  Ohio  Railroads. 
8.  Invitations — The  Preparations  at  Baltimore. 

4.  The  Trip  to  Baltimore,  by  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  Little  Miami,  CeutrrJ 

Ohio  and  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Roads. 

5.  The  Arrival  and  Reception  at  Baltimore. 

6.  The  Grand  Banquet  at  the  Maryland  Institute. 

7.  The  Trip  to  Washington  and  Mount  Vernon — Public  Entertainment. 

8.  The  Trip  to  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth,  Va.,  by  the  Chesapeake  Bay — Re- 

ceptions and  Entertainments. 

9.  Concluding  Reflections — The  City  of  Baltimore  and  Vicinity, 
t^                     Appendix  No.  1. 

Appendix  No.  2. 


\o^- 


CONTENTS 


|)art  Jivst. 

I. — General  Preface. 

II. — iNTEODUCXrON. 

III. — History  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railway. 

1.  Its  Origin  by  Pliilip  E.  Thomas,  in  1826. 

2.  Serious  Legislative  Struggles — Washington  Branch  Eoad  built,  1884. 

3.  Finished  to  Harper's  Ferry — President  Thomas  retires,  1836. 

4.  Hon.  Louis  McLane,  President — Open  to  Cumberland,  1842. 

5.  Hon.  Thos.  Swann,  President — Completed  to  Wheeling,  1853. 

6.  Wm.  G.  Harrison  and  Chauncy  Brooks,  Presidents — Various  Connections 

completed,  and  the  Road  rapidly  developed  to  its  present  position — 

Historical  and  Statistical  Data. 
IV. — H16TORY  OF  TUB  Northwestern  Virginia  Road. 
V. — History  of  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Road. 
VI. — History  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Road. 

1.  The  Great  Cities  of  the  West— Origin  of  the  Rond. 

2.  Progress  and  Completion  of  the  Road — Its  Value — Organization,  &c. 
VII. — Grand  Opening  Excursion  and  Celebrations  of  June,  185T. 

1.  General  Preparatory  Arrangements. 

2.  Names  of  Guests  of  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Co. 

3.  Names  of  Guests  of  Baltimore  &  Ohio  and  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Co. 

4.  Letters  from  Guests. 

5.  The  Trip  from  Baltimore  to  Grafton — Description  of  the  Line. 

6.  Trip  from  Grafton  through  Parkersburg  and  Marietta  to  Chillicothe — First 

Grand  Reception,  at  M.arietta — Description  of  Route  continued. 

7.  Celebration  at  Chillicothe — Arrival  and  Welcome  at  Cincinnati. 

8.  The  Celebration  at  Cincinnati. 

9.  Trip  from  Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis — Description  of  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi 

Road — Arrival  at  the  Mississippi. 
10.  The  St.  Louis  Celebration. 


JJart  Second. 

I.— Grand  Railroad  Excursion  of  the  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati  and  Chillicothb 
Acthoeities,  and  others,  to  Baltimore,  Washington  and  Norfolk,  July, 
1857. 

1.  Introduction. 

2.  Historical  Sketches  of  the  Little  Miami  and  the  Central  Ohio  Railroads. 
8.  Invitations — The  Preparations  at  Baltimore. 

4.  The  Trip  to  Baltimore,  by  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  Little  Miami,  Centrr.l 

Ohio  and  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Roads. 

5.  The  Arrival  and  Reception  at  Baltimore. 

6.  The  Grand  Banquet  at  the  Maryland  Institute. 

7.  The  Trip  to  Washington  and  Mount  Vernon — Public  Entertainment. 

8.  The  Trip  to  Norfolk  .and  Portsmouth,  Va.,  by  the  Chesapeake  Bay— Re- 

ceptions and  Entertainments. 

9.  Concluding  Reflections— The  City  of  Baltimore  and  Vicinity. 
\^                     Appendix  No.  1. 

Appendix  No.  2. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


1.  A  GENERAL  MAP  OF  THE  LINES  OPENED. 

2.  VIEW  OF  BALTIMOEE  CITY. 

3.  THE  CAMDEN  STATION— BALTIMOEE. 

4.  VIADUCT  AT  THE  WASHINGTON  JUNCTION. 

5.  ELLICOTT'S  MILLS. 

6.  THE  ELTSVILLE  BRIDGES. 

7.  THE  POINT  OF  ROCKS. 

8.  HARPERS  FERRY. 

9.  VIEW  FROM  JEFFERSON'S  ROCK. 

10.  MARTINSBURG  STATION. 

11.  RESIDENCE  OF  HON.  C.  J.  FAULKNER. 

12.  OLD  FORT  FREDERICK. 

13.  VIEW  ON  THE  UPPER  POTOMAC. 

14.  CUMBERLAND. 

15.  PIEDMONT. 

16.  OAKLAND. 

17.  DISTANT  MOUNTAIN  VIEW. 

18.  VIADUCTS  ON  CHEAT  RIVER  GRADE. 

19.  THE  CHEAT  RIVER  VALLEY. 

20.  THE  KINGWOOD  TUNNEL. 

21.  GRAFTON  JUNCTION. 

22.  CHILLICOTHE. 
2:3.  CINCINNATI. 

24.  SCENE  AT  BURNET  HOUSE. 

25.  TOMB  OF  GENERAL  HARRISON. 

26.  VIEW  NEAR  LAWRENCEBURG. 

27.  SCENE  ON  THE  WHITEWATER  RIVER. 

28.  RAILROAD  BRIDGE  AT  VINCENNES. 

29.  ST.  LOUIS. 

30.  AN  EXCURSION  TICKET. 

31.  RAILROAD  STATION  AT  CINCINNATI. 
82.  PENDLETON,  NEAR  CINCINNATL 

3.3.  MILFORD. 

U.  MIAMI  RAILOAD  BRIDGE. 

85.  MORROW. 

36.  VIEW  ON  MIAMI  RIVEE. 

87.  XENIA. 

88.  COLUMBUS. 

89.  WHEELING  CITY. 

40.  MOUNDSVILLE. 

41.  THE  MONOXGAHEL.V  BRIDGE. 

42.  THE  CAPITOL  AT  WASHINGTON. 


GENERAL    PREFACE. 


The  author  of  this  record  of  the  Great  Railroad  Celebrations  of  1857,  formed 
one  of  the  army  of  participants  in  the  celebration  of  the  opening  of  "  The 
American  Central  Railroad  Line,"  from  Baltimore,  Maryland,  continnoiisly  to 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in  June,  1857,  and  through  his  official  connection  with 
one  of  the  Railroad  Companies,  was  cognizant  of  the  interesting  proceedings 
attending  the  return  visit  of  the  Western  guests  from  St.  Louis,  Cinciiuiati, 
Chillicothe,  and  other  cities,  to  Baltimore  and  its  vicinity  in  the  following 
month  of  July,  1857,  by  the  "Great  National  Route."  Looking  upon  these 
events — which  marked  the  completion  of  the  shortest  and  most  direct  line  of 
communication  between  the  Atlantic  seaboard  and  the  great  centres  of  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Valleys — as  of  transcending  importance,  whilst  the  inter- 
change of  social  courtesies  between  the  people  of  a  widely  extended  section  of 
country  was  of  a  marked  and  impressive  character,  he  proposes  to  put  upon 
record  a  detailed  account  of  these  celebrations,  and  a  brief  general  history  of 
the  several  enterprises  which  together  constitute  tlie  line  in  question.  lu  ful- 
filling this  agreeable  task  it  has  been  his  constant  effort  to  make  the  book  an 
agreeable  as  well  as  a  useful  addition  to  the  Railroad  literature  of  the  day — to 
present  to  those  who  took  part  La  these  celebrative  ceremonies  an  interesting 
daguerreotype,  recalling  to  their  memories  scenes  in  which  all  participated 
with  so  miich  pleasure,  and  at  the  same  time  to  preserve  in  appropriate  con- 
nection therewith  the  important  facts  belonging  to  the  inception,  progress,  com- 
pletion and  operation  of  the  links  of  the  great  chain  of  railroads  which,  running 
nearly  on  one  parallel  of  latitude,  reach  from  the  76th  to  the  90th  degree  of 
longitude, — constituting  the  back  bone  of  our  railroad  system,  and  vertebrated 
with  an  infinity  of  connections  which  penetrate  and  unite  to  it,  and  with  one 
another,  the  congeries  of  States  lying  West  of  the  Atlantic  and  East  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains. 

The  immediate  occasion  of  the  June  celebration  was  the  completion  of 
tho  Oliio  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  direct  from  Cincinnati,  on  the  Ohio,  to  St. 
Louis,  on  "  the  Father  of  Waters," — beyond  all  question  one  of  the  most  im- 


VI  GENERAL     PREFACE. 

portant  lines  of  comnranication  in  the  country.  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  Company  embraced  the  same  opportunity  to  signalize  the  completion 
of  the  North-Westem  Virginia  (branch)  road  from  Grafton  to  Parkersbnrg  on  the 
Ohio.  The  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  Company,  whose  valuable  work 
forms  the  centre  link  in  this  chain  of  roads,  also  joined  in  the  festival,  and 
celebrated  the  opening  of  their  line  throughout  its  entire  length.  The  coinci- 
dence of  completing  these  three  important  roads  at  the  same  time,  and  thus 
furnishing  the  shortest  route  to  the  heart  of  our  Republic  which  can  ever  be 
devised,  was  a  happy  one.  It  was  eminently  appropriate  that  the  occasion  on 
which  they  joined  their  hands,  and  when  their  Briarean  arms  first  encircled 
and  bound  together,  with  fraternal  embrace,  the  broad  belt  of  country  Ijnng 
between  the  Atlantic  and  the  Mississippi,  should  be  marked  by  a  joint  celebra- 
tion, a  social  reunion  of  those  who  had  labored  long  and  faithfully  to  secure 
this  great  end.  These  peculiar  circumstances,  and  the  magnitude  of  the  inter- 
ests involved,  attracted  an  unusual  degree  of  attention  to  the  contemplated 
celebration,  which  was  a  particular  object  of  public  interest  for  weeks  before 
its  consummation. 

The  return  celebration,  attending  the  visit  of  the  Western  guests  to  the 
East,  was  a  sequence  of  the  fonner.  It  was  scarcely  less  marked  in  its  signifi- 
cance, and  only  exceeded  in  the  impressiveness  of  the  attendant  circumstances 
and  the  warmth  of  civic  and  social  courtesies  to  which  it  gave  birth,  by  the 
previous  demonstration,  which  must  always  retain  the  pre-eminent  descriptive 
title  of  ''  The  Great  Railroad  Celebration." 

The  author  makes  no  pretension  to  literary  merit  in  the  preparation  of  this 
book.  Its  object  is  obviously  practical  and  useful,  and  in  the  preservation  of 
these  characteristics  he  has  sought  only  to  make  it  full,  complete,  correct,  and 
impartial.  In  preparing  it  he  has  availed  himself  of  the  kind  aid  of  several 
friends  in  different  portions  of  the  country,  who  were  participants  in  one  or  the 
other  of  the  Celebrations,  or  are  well  informed  in  relation  to  the  history  of  the 
railroad  enterprises  connected  therewith.  Among  these  it  is  proper  that  public 
acknowledgment  should  be  made  to  the  following  gentlemen :  J.  W.  Simonton, 
of  New  York  ;  S.  W.  Ely,  of  Chillicothe;  Victor  Smith  and  M.  Halstead,  of 
Cincinnati ;  Wm.  Dennison,  Jr.,  of  Columbus,  Ohio ;  Charles  Gould,  of  New  York, 
and  Edington  Fulton  and  Thos.  D.  Sultzer,  of  Baltimore.  To  the  proprietors 
of  that  admirable  serial.  Harper's  Weekly,  he  is  also  indebted  for  several  of  the 
most  effective  cuts  which  illustrate  this  book. 


THE 


EAILWAY    CELEBRATIONS    OF    1857. 


PART     I. 


THE  CELEBRATIONS  OF  THE  OPENING  OF  THE  OHIO  &  MISSIS- 
SIPPI AND  THE  MARIETTA  &  CINCIM^ATI  RAILROADS, 
AND  THE  NORTHWESTERN  VIRGINIA  ARM  OF  THE 
BALTIMORE  &  OHIO  RAILROAD,  WITH  HISTO- 
RICAL AND  DESCRIPTIVE  ACCOUNTS  OF 
THOSE  LINES. 


■f 


THE 


RAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF  1857 


CHAPTER    I. 


INTKODUCTOKY. 


The  student  of  nature,  seeking  a  true  history  of  the  world's  material 
progress,  reads  in  the  hills,  mountains,  valleys,  and  rivers,  boundless 
pages  of  surpassing  interest,  "written  with  unerring  accuracy,  by  a 
mightier  hand  than  man's,  found  in  no  other  book  than  nature's,  nor 
recorded  in  the  most  ancient  traditions.  "What  more  curious  or  fasci- 
nating than  the  study  of  our  own  continent,  and  careful  reflection 
upon  the  history  of  its  remarkable  transformations  and  mutations 
from  the  days  of  creation  to  the  present  hour  ?  And  how  instructive 
the  lesson  thus  suggested  of  His  power  and  wisdom,  at  whose  bidding 
the  great  void  assumed  form,  becoming  a  world  of  life,  animation,  and 
beauty, — a  fit  home  for  its  monarch,  man,  made  in  the  image  of  his 
Creator. 

lie  pronounced  the  work  good  when  it  first  came  from  His  hand. 
Nevertheless,  complete  as  was  the  divine  creation  then,  perhaps  its 
greatest  wonder  was  that  principle  of  eternal  progression — planted 
alike  in  humanity  and  the  earth — which,  from  the  first  hour  to  this, 
lias  continually  developed  both  in  glorious  harmony,  so  that  just  as 
the  advancing  capacity  of  man  required  new  and  increased  fruits  of 
nature's  labor,  his  needs  liave  all  been  met  and  profusedly  supplied. 
1 


2  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

Nor  have  these  supplies  been  derived  alone  through  man's  successive 
discoveries  of  originally  existing  treasures  hidden  in  the  bosura  of 
nature  from  the  beginning.  Mother  Earth  herself,  ever  busy  in 
nature's  laboratory,  is  continually  increasing  her  stores,  or  modifying 
and  adapting  them  to  new  wants  of  her  children.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that,  at  some  time  in  the  far-distant  past,  portions  of  our  moun- 
tain ranges  formed  the  sides  of  grand  basins  holding  up  great  inland 
seas.  As  the  world  advanced,  and  animated  creation  was  like  to 
need  more  land,  these  lakes — having  accomplished  the  end  for  which 
they  were  so  long  imprisoned  among  the  hills — cleft  the  rocks  wliich 
bound  them,  and  their  waters  rushed  joyously  down  to  the  sea,  leaving 
behind  great  valleys,  covered  with  alluvial,  inviting  the  husbandman 
to  unlock  and  draw  from  their  bosom  richest  treasures  of  luxuriant 
vegetation. 

Populations  follow  a  similar  law.  They  grow  and  increase,  where- 
ever  located  to  advantage,  until  sutliciently  developed  to  fulfil  their 
destiny,  and  then  overflow  the  bounds  Avhieh  circumscribed  them, 
pouring  the  tide  of  emigration  into  whatever  convenient  field  boun- 
tiful nature  has  provided  for  its. reception.  Mountains  and  oceans 
constitute  the  chief  barriers  dividing  nations  from  each  other,  and 
confining  them  to  particular  districts,  thus  provoking  the  concentration 
of  effort  and  active  exercise  of  reasoning  and  inventive  faculties,  neces- 
sary to  advancement,  and  indispensable  to  a  people's  preparation  for 
its  new  duties,  when  it  shall  take  possession  of  another  and  larger 
sphere  of  action. 

Pi'ecisely  this  office  was  fulfilled  for  the  people  of  the  United  States 
by  the  Alleghanies,  which  for  a  long  time  interposed  a  seemingly  im- 
passable barrier  between  the  Atlantic  and  the  great  valley  of  the 
Mississippi.  Our  fathers  settled  upon  the  seaboard.  Bringing  with 
them  the  intelligence  and  civilization  of  the  Old  "World,  they  speedily 
established  commercial  relations  with  the  nations  across  the  seas.  We 
became,  first,  a  Commercial  People.  Having  thus  secured  this  riglit 
arm  of  national  prosperity  by  our  residence  upon  the  seaboard.  Agri- 
culture and  Manufactures  naturally  found  birth,  and  enjoyed  rapid, 
liealthy  progress.  Looking  for  lands  to  till,  and  delving  in  the  bowels 
of  the  earth  for  elements  of  manufacturing  wealth,  we  gradually 
pressed  inland,  until  the  Alleghanies  interposed  and  checked  our  patii 
for  a  while.  A  few  years  more  and  we  became  so  strong  that  the 
waves  of  population  would  not  be  restrained.  These  rose  higher  and 
higher,  until  a  little  stream  of  emigration  began  to  flow  down  into 
the  beautiful  valleys  beyond;  and  then, — how  wonderful  the  change! 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  8 

In  a  few  brief  years, — a  space  of  time  almost  increilible  when  we  look 
at  the  results, — the  great  West  teemed  with  towns,  cities,  factories, 
steamboats,  and  industrious,  busy  men,  where  but  now  the  solitude 
was  scarce!}'  broken  save  by  the  tempest  blast. 

The  Ohio,  jNIississippi,  and  their  tributaries,  coursing  through 
thousands  of  miles  of  self-ploughed  channels,  furnished  the  settlers, 
for  a  while,  with  satisfactory  facilities  of  communicating  with  the 
outer  world,  exporting  their  surplus  produce,  and  obtaining  needed 
supfjlies.  But  in  his  rapid  race  for  fortune,  man  alread}^  esteems  the 
pulsations  of  these  arteries  of  commerce  too  slow.  The  Alleghanies 
themselves  have  been  at  last  thrown  down,  and  the  valleys  on  either 
side  filled  up,  so  that  the  locomotive  may  dash  over  its  iron  course, 
establishing  communication  between  the  East  and  "West,  rapid  almost 
as  the  flash  of  the  magnetic  current  which  speeds  its  way  over  the 
"single  track"  hung  by  its  side.  Marvellous  indeed  have  been  the 
changes  thus  so  briefly  sketched,  and  grandly  curious  the  operations 
of  the  law  of  progress  followed  by  nature  and  man,  as  illustrated  in 
these  reflections. 

But  it  is  not  our  purpose  to  write  a  treatise  on  philosophy  or  morals. 
We  have  only  paid  tribute,  in  passing,  to  the  wonderful  economy  of 
nature  and  her  laws.  The  subject  to  Avhich  our  efforts  are  addressed 
is  an  eminently  practical  one.  We  begin  it  just  where  our  philoso- 
phizing ended — in  Eailroads.  K"or  is  it  our  design  to  expand  upon 
the  value  of  these  grand  highways  of  commerce  and  travel.  That 
would  be  a  work  of  supererogation.  Every  man,  woman,  and  child, 
lias  hourly  experience  of  it,  far  more  convincing  than  volumes  of 
written  logic.  As  well  labor  to  prove  the  importance  of  breathing,  or 
the  value  of  food  in  replenishing  and  invigorating  the  sources  of  life. 
We  have  all  witnessed  the  prairie  Avaste  spring  into  civilization,  its 
bosom  gemming  with  cottages,  and  brightening  with  cultivation  as 
soon  as  the  railroad  traversed  it  with  life-giving  arteries.  We 
have  seen  the  valley  blossom  like  the  rose,  under  the  influence  of  rail- 
roads, and  a  thousand  barren  hills  speedily  covered  with  a  wealth  of 
verdure,  furnishing  homes  for  innumerable  happy,  prosperous  families, 
where,  before,  the  wild  beast  found  his  lair.  Time  and  space  are  anni- 
hilated through  their  agency  ;  and  friends  long  separated  by  distance 
are  neighbors  once  more ;  while  all  the  avenues  of  intelligence,  and 
tlieir  recreative  powers,  are  multiplied  a  tliousand-fold  by  steam.  The 
man  would  betray  the  weakness  of  an  egotist,  who,  in  this  day,  should 
presume  to  enlighten  his  fellows  upon  the  advantages  of  railroads. 


4  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

Perhaps  the  most  general  demonstration  yet  made  in  the  United 
States,  in  regard  to  the  rapid  development,  no  less  than  the  general 
advantage  of  the  Great  Railroad  System,  was  that  attendant  upon 
the  completion  and  opening  of  the  several  lines  imiting  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Road — the  first  begun  in  America — with  the  city  of  St. 
Louis.  The  simultaneous  completion  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  the 
Marietta  and  Cincinnati,  and  the  Northwestern  Vii'ginia  Branch  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroads,  forming  a  grand  continuous  trunk  line 
of  nearly  six  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  length,  was  a  fact  well  worthy 
of  the  very  enthusiastic  celebrations  to  which  it  gave  rise,  and  of  which 
we  purpose  to  mai^e  an  ample  record  in  these  pages. 

Ere  we  proceed  to  a  description  of  the  ceremonies  and  other  events 
of  that  occasion,  it  is  proper  to  give  a  history  of  each  of  the  corpora- 
tions under  whose  auspices  they  transpired.  Notwithstanding  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  Company,  in  relation  to  the  excursion 
itself,  is  first  in  order,  as  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Company  inaugu- 
rated the  first  great  railroad  enterprise  in  the  United  States,  we  begin 
with  its  history.  In  view  of  tlie  fact  that  this  Company  was  the 
pioneer  in  the  system  of  railroad  improvements  on  our  continent,  it  is 
fit,  also,  that  we  should  give  considerable  space  to  the  history  of  its 
origin,  its  early  struggles,  and  its  final  success. 


THE 
RAILWxiY   CELEBRATIONS   OF   1857. 


CHAPTER  II. 

HISTOPwT  OF  TUE  BALTIMORE  AND  OHIO  EAILKOAD  COMPANY. 

Is  looking  for  the  origin  of  this  Company  and  its  enterprise,  we  are 
carried  back  as  far  as  the  year  1826.  At  about  that  period,  attention 
Avas  aroused  in  Baltimore  to  the  fact,  that  the  public  works  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  Erie  Canal,  of  New  York,  had  diverted  from  Balti- 
more a  large  portion  of  the  trade  she  had  built  up  with  the  West.  It 
is  a  well-known  fact,  that  long  before  the  steamboat  ploughed  its  wake 
across  Lake  Erie,  or  even  a  stage  route  existed  between  Buffalo  and 
the  Ohio  or  Mississippi  valleys,  emigration  and  trafSc  had  marked  a 
path  across  the  mountains,  from  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  to  Cin- 
cinnati and  beyond.  To  Baltimore,  especially,  this  trade  became  an 
important  element  of  prosperity  and  wealth ;  but  when  the  Alleghanies 
were  turned  by  the  long  circuit  of  the  Lake  Shore,  she  lost  the  greater 
portion  of  that  commerce,  which  Philadelphia  and  New  York  found 
and  appropriated.  In  1826,  Philip  E.  Tliomas,  an  intelligent  Quaker 
merchant  ])liilanthropist.  President  of  tlie  Mechanics  Bank  of  Balti- 
more, and  George  Brown — son  of  the  distinguished  merchant  Alex- 
ander Brown — a  Director  in  the  same  institution,  took  up  the  subject 
for  careful  consideration.  The  result  of  their  conferences  and  delibera- 
tions was  the  conviction,  that  unless  early  and  adequate  means  could 
bo  devised  to  recover  this  trade,  it  would  be  ultimately  lost  to  their 
city  for  ever. 

The  proposed  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  had  been  generally 
looked  to  by  the  citizens  of  Baltimore  as  the  readiest  avenue  to  the 
recovery  of  tlieir  receding  vantage  ground  ;  but  that  hope  failed  them 
in  July,  1820,  upon  the  publication  of  the  estimate  of  its  probable  cost, 
made  by  General  Barnard,  the  French  engineer,  and  his  representa- 


b  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

tions  of  the  formidable  difficulties  -which  lay  in  its  way,  by  reason  of 
the  scarcity  of  water,  and  the  high  elevations  over  which  it  ninst  ne- 
cessarily be  carried.  The  citizens  generally  became  satisfied  that  it 
could  not  become  of  any  practicable  advantage  to  Baltimore  for  the 
transportation  of  passengers  or  merchandise  to  and  from  the  West, 
especially  with  its  eastern  termination  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac. 
Philip  E.  Thomas,  eai'nestly  leading  in  the  expression  of  this  senti- 
ment, at  once  resigned  the  position  he  then  held  as  a  commissioner 
on  the  part  of  Maryland  in  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Company, 
and  from  that  time,  in  connection  with  George  Brown,  devoted  his 
entire  energies  to  the  formation  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
Company. 

The  bold  creative  enterprise  of  these  gentlemen  will  be  the  more 
appreciated  when  it  is  remembered  that,  previous  to  this  time,  no  rail- 
road had  been  constructed  either  in  Europe  or  America  for  the  con- 
veyance of  passengers,  produce,  or  merchandise  between  distant  points. 
A  few  railroads  had  been  constructed  in  England  for  local  purposes, 
such  as  the  transportation  of  coal,  iron,  and  other  heavy  articles  from 
the  mines  or  places  of  production  to  navigable  waters;  but  for  general 
purposes  of  travel  and  trade  they  were  still  an  untried  experiment, 
and  so  crude  was  public  information  on  the  subject,  that  the  question 
Lad  not  been  settled  whether  stationary  steam  engines  or  horses  would 
be  preferable  as  the  motive  power. 

Messrs.  Thomas  and  Brown  having  collected  and  carefully  studied 
over  valuable  information  in  regard  to  railroad  enterprises  in  England, 
obtained  through  friends  then  resident  abroad,  became  fully  convinced 
that  the  future  commercial  prosperity  of  Baltimore  depended  on  the 
early  completion  of  a  railroad,  which  they  foresaw  could  be  con- 
structed to  connect  that  city  with  the  western  waters.  They  accord- 
ingly invited  about  twenty-five  of  the  most  influential  merchants  of 
Baltimore,  with  some  other  citizens,  to  meet  them  at  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Brown,  on  tlie  12th  day  of  February,  1S27,  "to  take  into  consid- 
eration the  best  means  of  restoring  to  the  city  of  Baltimore  that  por- 
tion of  tlie  "Westerji  Trade  which  has  lately  been  diverted  from  it  by 
the  introduction  of  steam  navigation  and  by  other  causes." 

The  meeting  assembled,  and  was  well  attended  by  influential  capi- 
talists. Wm.  Patterson,  Esq.,  presided,  and  David  Winchester  oifici- 
ated  as  Secretary.  Messrs.  Thomas  and  Brown  laid  before  the 
gentlemen  present,  intelligent  statements  of  their  researches  on  the 
subject  of  railroads,  with  facts  and  figures  to  establish  their  superiority 
over  any  other  mode  of  conveyance.     The  following  named  gentlemen 


ORIGIN    OF   THE    BALTIMORE    AND    OHIO    RAILWAY.  7 

were  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  these  statements,  together 
with  such  other  facts  and  experimental  data  as  they  miglit  be  ahle  to 
collect,  with  instructions  to  report  their  opinion  thereon,  and  recom- 
mend such  course  as  they  raiglit  deem  proper  to  he  pursued :  viz., 
Philip  E.  Thomas,  Benjamin  C.  Howard,  George  Brown,  Talbot  Jones, 
Joseph  W.  Patterson,  Evan  Thomas,  John  V.  L.  McMahou. 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  again  on  the  succeeding  Monday, 
the  19th  of  February,  when  a  Eeport,  comprising  thirty-four  closely 
printed  pages,  was  presented  by  Mr.  Thomas,  the  Chairman  of  the 
Committee.  It  was  an  able  document,  which  to-day,  in  view  of  the 
wonderful  fulfilment  of  its  confident  anticipations,  may  be  looked  upon 
almost  in  the  light  of  prophecy.  In  honor  of  the  far-reaching  sagacity 
and  practical  wisdom  of  its  author,  and  his  co-founder  of  the  great 
work  it  initiated,  we  give  an  extract  or  two.  After  presenting  and 
enforcing  the  duty  of  Baltimore  with  regard  to  the  completion  of  the 
Tide  Water  Canal  and  to  securing  the  ascending  and  descending  trade 
of  the  Susquehanna  and  its  tributaries,  the  report  proceeds : — 

"  But  important  as  this  trade  is  to  Baltimore,  it  is  certainly  of  minor  con- 
sideration, when  compared  to  the  immense  commerce  which  lies  within  our 
grasp  to  the  West,  provided  we  have  the  enterprise  to  profit  by  the  advantages 
which  om' local  situation  gives  ns  in  reference  to  that  trade.  Baltimore  lies 
200  miles  nearer  to  the  navigable  waters  of  the  West  than  New  York,  and 
about  100  miles  nearer  to  them  than  Philadelphia,  to  which  may  be  added  the 
important  fact,  that  the  easiest,  and  by  far  the  most  practicable  route  through 
the  ridges  of  mountains  which  divide  the  Atlantic  from  the  Western  waters,  is 
along  the  depression  formed  by  the  Potomac  in  its  passage  tlu-ough  them. 
Taking  then  into  the  estimate,  the  advantages  which  these  important  circum- 
stances afford  to  Baltimore,  in  regard  to  this  immense  trade,  we  again  repeat 
that  nothing  is  wanted  to  secui-e  a  great  portion  of  it  to  our  city,  but  a  faithful 
application  of  the  means  within  our  own  power. 

"  The  only  point  from  which  we  have  any  thing  to  apprehend,  is  New 
Orleans  ;  with  that  city,  it  is  admitted  we  must  be  content  to  share  this  trade, 
because  she  will  always  enjoy  a  certain  j'ortion  of  it  in  defiance  of  our  efforts ; 
but  from  a  covmtrv  of  such  vast  extent,  and  whose  productions  are  so  various 
and  of  such  incalculable  amount,  there  will  be  a  suificient  trade  to  sustain  both 
New  Orleans  and  Baltimore  ;  and  we  niay  feel  fully  contented  if  we  can  suc- 
ceed in  securing  to  ourselves  that  portion  of  it  which  will  prefer  to  seek  a 
market  east  of  the  mountains. 

'•  Of  the  several  artiScial  means  which  human  ingenuity  and  industry  have 
devised  to  open  easy  and  economical  communications  between  distant  points, 
tm-npike-roads,  canals,  and  railroads,  have  unquestionably  the  advantage  over 
all  others.  When  turnpike-roads  were  first  attempted  in  England,  they  were 
almost  \mivcrsally  opposed  by  the  great  body  of  the  people  ;  a  few  entei'prising 
citizens,  however,  succeeded,  after  a  sevei-e  struggle,  in  constructing  them.  The 
amount  of  travelling  was  then  so  limited,  that  this  means  of  transportation  was 
found  abundantly  suHicient  for  all  the  exigencies  of  the  then  trade  of  that  coun- 
try ;  iu  a  little  time,  however,  so  great  was  the  increase  of  commerce  there, 


8  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

(and  ■wliicli  increase  in  a  great  measure  resulted  from  the  advantages  these 
roads  afforded,)  that  even  the  turnpikes  in  a  short  time  were  found  insufficient 
to  accommodate  the  growing  trade  of  the  country,  and  the  substitution  of 
canals  in  the  place  of  roads  was  the  consequence,  in  every  situation  where  the 
construction  of  them  was  practicable. 

"  It  was  soon  ascertained,  that  in  proportion  to  the  increased  facilities 
afforded  to  trade  by  the  canals  in  England,  was  the  increase  of  trade  itself, 
until  even  this  means  of  communication  was  actually,  in  many  of  the  more 
commercial  parts  of  the  country,  found  insufficient  for  the  transportation 
required. 

"  Railroads  had,  upon  a  limited  scale,  been  used  in  several  places  in  Eng- 
land and  ^\'ales  for  a  number  of  years,  and  had,  in  every  instance,  been  found 
fully  to  answer  the  pui-poses  required,  as  far  as  the  experiment  had  been  made. 
The  idea  of  applying  them  upou  a  more  extended  scale,  appears,  however,  only 
recently  to  have  been  suggested  in  that  country ;  but  notwithstanding  so  little 
time  has  elapsed  since  the  attempt  was  first  made,  yet  we  fiud  that  so  decided 
have  been  their  advantages  over  turnpike-roads,  and  even  over  canals,  that 
already  2,000  miles  of  them  are  actually  completed  or  in  a  train  of  rapid  pro- 
gress, in  Great  Britain,  and  that  the  experiment  of  their  construction  has  not 
in  one  case  failed,  nor  has  there  been  one  instance  in  which  they  have  not  fully 
answered  the  most  sangiune  exjjectations  of  their  projectors.  Indeed,  so  com- 
pletely has  tills  improvement  succeeded  in  England,  that  it  is  the  opinion  of 
many  judicious  and  practical  men  there,  that  these  roads  will,  for  heavy 
transportation,  supersede  canals  as  eiFectually  as  canals  have  superseded  turn- 
pike-roads." 

The  report  proceeded  to  show  the  advantage  that  canals  have  in 
England  over  a  similar  system  of  transportation  in  tliis  country, 
on  account  of  the  milder  climate,  and  the  absence  of  danger  from 
stagnation  of  water  in  the  canals,  existing  in  this  country  during  the 
sumtner  mouths ;  and  also  from  the  fact  that  that  country  having 
been  so  long  and  densely  settled,  there  is  a  superior  knowledge  of  the 
quantity  of  water  they  can  depend  upon  from  their  streams,  to  supply 
their  canals  at  all  seasons  of  the  year ;  whilst  it  was  even  then  an  ad- 
mitted fact,  that  many  of  our  mountain  streams  were  every  year 
diminishing  in  volume,  so  that  no  one  could  tell  to  what  point  of 
declension  they  might  reach  thirty  or  forty  years  hence.  Although 
the  facts  with  regard  to  the  railroad  system,  in  the  possession  of  the 
committee,  were  not  as  extensive  as  tliey  desired,  they  declared  that 
they  had  "  gleaned  from  the  documents  they  examined  on  the  subject, 
enough  to  leave  no  doubt  upon  their  minds  that  these  roads  were  far 
better  adapted  to  our  situation  and  circumstances,  than  a  canal  across 
the  mountains  would  be.  They  therefore  recommended  that  measures 
bo  taken  to  construct  "  a  double  railroad  "  between  the  city  of  Balti- 
more and  some  suitable  point  upon  the  Ohio  River,  by  tlie  n.c«t  eligible 
and  direct  route,  and  that  a  charter  to  incorporate  a  company  to  exe- 
cute this  work  be  obtained  as  early  as  practicable. 


REPORT    UPON    THE    PRACTICABILITY    OF    RAILWAYS.  9 

The  Tcport  next  proceeds  to  detail  the  various  facts  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  committee,  and  concludes  as  follows  : 

"  The  district  of  country  which  would  mainly  depend  upon  this  route  for 
tlie  conveyance  of  its  surphis  produce,  it  will  he  recollected,  already  contains 
nearly  two  millions  of  inhabitants,  that  is  to  say,  about  one-fifth  of  the  whole 
population  of  the  United  States,  whilst  the  population  depending  upon  the  New 
York  Canal  is  not  estimated  to  be  more  tlian  about  one  million  ;  and  the  re- 
ceipts from  the  latter  are  stated  to  be  as  follows  : 

"Keceipts  for  the  year  1824 ^UOja]   07 

1825 56G,221  51 

1826 765,000  00 

"  There  are  a  great  variety  of  articles,  the  product  of  the  country  west  of 
the  Alleghany  Mountains,  which  are  now  of  little  value  in  those  countries,  on 
account  of  the  heavy  expenses  imavoidably  incurred  in  the  transportation  of 
them  to  a  port  whence  they  could  he  shipped  to  a  foreign  market.  With  the 
facilities  afforded  by  this  road  many  of  these  articles  could  not  only  bear  a 
transportation  to  Baltimore,  but  while  they  would  furnish  a  constant  and  an 
increasing  supply  of  freight  upon  the  proposed  road,  tbe\'  would  become  a 
source  of  great  wealth  to  the  people  of  the  \\'est. 

"  To  illustrate  the  tnith  of  this  assertion,  it  will  only  be  necessary  to  refer 
to  the  single  article  of  breadstuffs.  A  barrel  of  flour,  for  instance,  which  would 
now  command  five  dollars  in  Baltimore,  would  not,  as  an  article  of  export  to 
ihtit  market,  be  worth  at  AVheeling,  on  the  Ohio  River,  more  than  one  dollar  ; 
the  cost  of  its  transportation  from  that  place  by  the  present  means  of  convey- 
ance being  four  dollars.  Whereas  upon  the  proposed  railroad,  the  whole 
expense  of  transportation  from  the  Ohio  River  to  Baltimore,  being  estimated 
to  be  oidy  at  the  rate  of  ten  dollars  per  ton,  the  cost  of  carriage  upon  a  barrel 
of  flour  would  then  be  only  one  dollar;  thus  at  once  would  its  value,  as  au 
article  of  export,  be  enhanced  in  Ohio  from  one  dollar  to  four  dollars  per 
barrel. 

"  The  expense  of  conveying  cotton  upon  the  proposed  railroad  from  the 
Ohio  River  to  Baltimore,  including  all  charges,  may  be  estimated  at  one- 
quarter  of  a  cent  per  pound,  certainly  not  more  than  half  a  cent  per  pound  ; 
and  coal  from  the  Alleghany  Mountains  near  to  Cumberland,  including  its 
cost  at  the  pits,  could  be  delivered  at  Baltimore  at  from  11  to  12  cents  per 
bushel.  Let  us  then  apply  this  calculation  to  the  other  numerous  produc- 
tions of  the  Western  States,  and  we  shall  at  once  be  convinced,  that  there  is 
no  scale  by  which  we  could  venture  to  calculate  the  ultimate  extent  of  the 
trade  which  would  flow  into  the  State  of  Maryland,  upon  the  proposed  rail- 
road, should  its  results  approach  any  thing  near  to  our  present  expectations. 

"  No  part  of  the  country,  included  in  these  estimates,  lies  nearer,  by  water, 
to  New  Orleans,  than  ],26o  or  perhaps  1,500  miles,  (and  that,  it  should  be 
recollected,  is  the  only  market  that  could  compete  with  us  for  this  trade,)  whilst 
a  large  portion  of  those  districts  lie  2,000  miles  distant  from  that  city.  By  the 
estimates  here  fimiished,  it  is  manifestly  clear,  that  the  produce  from  a  large 
portion  of  tho.^  countiies  can  lie  delivered  at  Baltimore,  at  a  less  expense  of 
transportation  than  they  possibly  can  be  carried  to  New  Orleans. 

"  Admitting  the  cities  of  New  Orleans  and  Baltimore  to  stand  in  the  same 
relative  condition,  as  regards  their  claims  to  this  trade,  Baltimore,  to  say  the 
least,  might  be  expected  to  hold  its  share  ;   but  we  should  not  lose  sight  of  the 


10  GREAT    OEIIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENIXG. 

important  foct,  that  the  productions  of  these  extensive  regions,  excepting  only- 
cotton  and  tobacco,  beuig  principally  breadstnffs,  provisions,  and  other  perish- 
able articles,  cannot  be  exposed  to  the  deleterious  effects  of  the  climate  of  New 
Orleans,  without  the  hazard  of  great  iiijury ;  hence  we  find  that  considerable 
portions  of  the  flour  and  provisions  which  go  by  the  way  of  the  Mississippi, 
are  often  so  much  damaged,  as  to  be  rendei-ed  unfit  for  exportation  to  a  foreign 
market.  Many  valuable  lives  are  also  annually  sacrificed  to  the  climate,  in 
the  prosecution  of  the  trade  upon  the  Mississippi.  What  then  has  Baltimore 
to  fear  from  New  Orleans,  in  a  conflict  on  equal  terms  for  their  trade  ? 

"  To  convince  any  one  that  there  is  no  probability  that  the  trade  here  esti- 
mated will  be  likely  hereafter  to  decline,  it  will  only  be  necessary  to  observe, 
that  the  population  upon  which  the  calculations  are  founded,  is  rapidly  increas- 
ing every  year,  and  that  it  must,  for  several  succeeding  generations,  still  con- 
tinue to  increase.  The  country  around  the  Chesapeake  Bay  was  first  settled 
by  Europeans  about  the  year  1632,  and  in  the  j-ear  1800  the  white  population 
had  barely  reached  as  far  west  as  the  Ohio  River  ;  that  is  to  say,  in  160  years 
it  had  advanced  westward  about  400  miles,  or  at  the  rate  of  two  and  a  half 
miles  per  year.  There  is  now  a  dense  population  extending  as  far  west  as  the 
junction  of  the  Osage  River  with  the  Missom-i :  which  is  about  5)00  miles  west 
of  the  Ohio  River  at  Wheeling ;  of  course  the  white  population  has,  within  the 
last  thirty  years,  travelled  that  distance,  or  more  than  thirty  miles  each  year, 
and  is  at  this  time  advancing  with  as  great,  if  not  greater  impetus,  than  at  any 
former  period ;  and  according  to  all  probability,  if  not  checked  by  some  un- 
foreseen circumstances,  it  will,  within  the  next  thirty  years,  reach  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  or  even  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  We  have,  therefore,  no  reason  to 
look  for  any  falling  off  in  this  trade,  but  on  the  contrary,  for  an  increase  of  it 
to  an  extent  of  which  no  estimate  could  now  be  formed." 

Tlie  report  was  unanimously  adopted,  and  a  large  edition  of  it,  in 
pamphlet  form,  ordered  to  be  published  for  distribution.  On  mature 
consideration,  the  following  resolutions  were  also  adopted  by  the 
meeting : 

"  Resolced,  That  immediate  application  be  made  to  the  Legislature  of  Mary- 
land, for  an  act  incorporating  a  joint  stock  company,  to  be  styled  '  The  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railway  Company,'  and  clothing  such  company  with  all  the 
powei-s  necessary  to  the  construction  of  a  railroad,  with  two  or  more  sets  of 
rails,  from  the  city  of  Baltimore  to  the  Ohio  River. 

"  jRrsolrcd,  That  the  capital  stock  of  said  company  shall  be  five  millions 
of  doUars,  but  that  the  company  be  incorporated,  and  provision  shall  be  made 
by  the  said  act  for  its  organization,  upon  the  subscription  of  one  million  of  dol- 
lars to  said  stock,  and  that  the  said  company  shall  have  power  to  increase  the 
capital  stock  thereof,  so  far  as  may  be  necessary  to  effect  said  objects. 

"  Rexoleed,  That  it  is  expedient  and  proper  in  said  act,  to  permit  subscrip- 
tions of  stock  to  the  same,  to  be  made  by  the  United  States,  by  States,  corpo- 
rations, or  individuals;  and  to  proviile  tliat  as  soon  as  the  said  act  shall  have 
been  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  Maryland,  subscription  books  shall  be  open- 
ed, subscriptions  received,  the  company  organized,  and  the  said  road  con- 
structed, so  far  as  it  may  lie  within  the  limits  of  the  State  of  Maryland  ;  and 
that  the  assent  of  the  Legislatures  of  Tenusylvaaia  and  Virginia  to  the  said 
act  shall  be  obtained  as  speedily  as  possible,' but  shall  be  made  necessary  only 
.=o  far  as  in  constructing  tiie  said  road  it  shall  be  found  necessary  to  pass 
through  their  respective  States." 


FIRST    APPLICATION    FOPv    A    UAILROAD    CHARTER.  11 

Tlio  following  gcntleinen  were  appointed  a  committee  to  prefer  an 
ai)plication  to  tlio  Legislature  of  Maryland  for  an  act  of  incorpora- 
tion : — 

Charlks  C'arroll,  of  Carrollton,  Philip  E.  Thomas, 

"Wh.LIAM  rATTERSON,  WiLLIAJl  LoRMAX, 

Isaac  McKiM,  Gkorgi';  Warner, 

KoBERT  Oliver,  Bexjajiix  C.  Howakh, 

ClIAS.  RlDGELY,  of  HaiDptOll,  SoLO.MOX  ElTIXO, 

Thomas  Tenant,  W.  W.  Taylor, 

Alexander  Brown,  Alexander  Fridge, 

Joitx  McKiM,  Jr.,  .  James  L.  Hawkins, 

Talbot  Jonf.s,  John  B.  Morris, 

Jajies  Wilson,  Lnivi:  Tiernan, 

Thomas  Ellicott,  Alexaxder  McDonald, 

George  IIoekjian,  Solo.mon  Birckhead. 

AN'lLLIA-M   SXEUART, 

Of  this  coininittee  there  are  now  living  only  four,  viz.:  Thomas 
Ellicott,  Philip  E.  Thomas,  Benjamin  C.  Howard,  and  John  B.  Morris. 

The  project  was  received  with  general  favor  throughout  the  city 
and  Srate,  and  an  application  to  the  Legislature  of  Maryland  for  a 
charter  was  drawn  up  by  J.  V.  L.  McMahon,  Esq.,  and  through  his 
indefatigable  exertions  it  was  properly  obtained.  The  proposed 
amount  of  stock  having  been  speedily  taken,  the  company  was  duly 
organized  on  the  24th  day  of  April,  1827,  when  the  following  gentle- 
men were  elected  as  the  first  Board  of  Directors,  by  whom  Philip  E. 
Thomas  was  chosen  President,  and  George  Brown,  Treasurer : — 

Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  Gioorge  Hoffman, 

Wm.  Patterson,  Philii'  E.  Thosias, 

RoRERT  Oliver,  Thomas  ELLicoTr. 

Alexander  Brown,  John  B.  Morris, 

Isaac  McKim,  Talrot  Jones, 

^\lLLIAM  L(JRMAN,  WiLLLVM  SxEUART. 

A  tribute  certainly  due  to  that  distinguished  Marylander  and 
eminent  lawyer,  John  V.  L.  McMahon,  may  be  fitly  recorded  here. 
As  a  delegate  from  the  city  of  Baltimore  in  the  State  Legislature, 
lie  drew  up  the  original  charter  of  the  road,  as  already  stated, 
and  procured  its  passage.  It  was  the  first  railroad  charter  obtained 
in  the  United  States,  and  is  a  rare  document,  indicating  its  author's 
remarkable  perception  and  appreciation,  at  that  <«arly  period,  of  the 
powers  that  would  be  required  by  such  a  corporation.  An  anec- 
dote is  current,  which  indicates  hr  ,v  startlingly  comprehensive  and 
original  it  was  esteemed  by  liis  contemporaries.  After  Mr.  McMahon 
had. prepared  the  document  in  the  text,  it  was  read  by  him  to  the 


12  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    KAILROAD    OPENING. 

compiittee  for  their  adoption.  During  the  reading,  as  provision 
after  provision  was  gone  over,  and  the  varied  and  comprehensive  pow- 
ers Avhicli  the  distinguislied  autlior  had  embraced  in  it,  were  one  by 
one  unfolded, — tlie  venerable  Kobert  Oliver  arose,  and  in  his  pecu- 
liarly blunt  and  off-hand  manner  exclaimed,  "  Stop  man  :  yoiCre  ashing 
for  more  titan  the  Lord's  Prayer.''''  Mr.  McMahon  smilingly  replied, 
"  that  it  was  all  necessary,  and  the  more  that  they  asked  for,  the  more 
they  would  get."  Mr.  Oliver  then  rejoined,  "^?V7i«  mav.,  go  on^ 
The  result  vindicated  his  judgment,  and  the  charter  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad  is  the  model  of  most  of  the  railroad  charters  sub- 
sequently obtained  from  the  Legislatures  of  the  various  States,  that 
were  started  soon  as  the  practicability  of  tlie  railroad  system  was  fully 
demonstrated  by  that  pioneer  company. 

Soon  after  the  charter  Avas  obtained,  Mr.  McMahon,  as  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Internal  Improvements,  submitted  to  the  Legis- 
lature an  able  and  convincing  report  in  belialf  of  the  road,  as  the 
means  of  securing  to  Baltimore  the  trade  of  the  West,  accompanied 
by  a  bill  which,  mainly  through  his  efforts,  was  passed  at  the  session 
of  1828,  authorizing  the  State  of  Maryland  to  subscribe  $500,000  to  the 
stock  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company, — the  first  legis- 
lative aid  ever  afforded  to  a  railroad  corporation  in  the  United  States. 

During  tlie  entire  legislative  career  of  Mr.  McMahon,  he  stood  by 
the  company,  its  firm  and  fast  friend,  introducing  many  of  the  subse- 
quent^acts  passed  amendatory  of  tlie  charter,  and  increasing  its  power  ; 
and  he  now  looks  upon  the  completion  of  the  great  enterprise  with 
tlie  abundant  pride  and  gratification  felt  by  all  who  aided  the  com- 
pany in  its  early  trials  and  struggles. 

Immediately  after  the  organization  of  the  company,  two  eminent 
engineers.  Col.  Stephen  II.  Long  and  Jonatlian  Knight,  were  selected 
by  the  Board  to  make  the  necessary  surveys  of  the  country  through 
which  the  road  proposed  to  pass.  The  Government  of  the  LTnited 
States,  justly  appreciating  tlie  importance  of  the  enterprise,  also  ex- 
tended to  it  a  most  liberal  patronage.  Several  able  and  efficient  mem- 
bers of  the  topographical  corps  Avere  detailed  to  the  service  of  the 
company,  among  Avhom  Avere  Captain  William  Gibbs  !N[cNeill,  Lieu- 
tenants Joshua  Barney,  Isaac  Trimble,  Richard  E.  Hazzard,  William 
Cook,  Walter  Gwynn,  and  John  L.  Dillahunty,  of  the  United  States 
Artillerj',  and  William  Harrison,  Jr.,  Assistant  Engineer,  who  pro- 
ceeded to  examine  the  various  routes  from  the  city  of  Baltimore  to 
the  valley  of  the  Potomac,  and  along  that  ravine  as  for  as  Cumber- 
land ;  and  from  thence  made  a  general  reconnoissance  of  the  country 


ORGANIZATION    UNDER    THE    CHARTERS ENGINEERS.  13 

between  tlie  Potomac  and  tlie  Ohio  River.  Messrs.  Long  and  Knight 
finally,  on  the  5th  of  April,  1828,  made  a  detailed  report  to  Philip  E. 
Thomas,  (ex-ofBcio  President  of  the  Board  of  Engineers,)  accom- 
panied by  the  statements  and  narratives  of  the  topographical  officers 
detailed  by  government,  recommending  what  they  deemed  to  be  the 
most  practicable  route. 

These  reports  having  been  duly  examined  by  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors, on  the  1st  of  October,  1828,  President  Thomas  reported  to  the 
stockholders,  tliat  the  preliminary  examinations  had  resulted  in  a  con- 
viction of  the  entire  practicability  of  a  railroad  from  Baltimore  to  the 
Ohio  River,  and  that  the  Board  were  convinced  that  of  the  various 
routes  which  had  been  suggested,  the  one  along  the  valley  of  the  Pa- 
tapsco,  and  thence  in  the  direction  of  Bennett's  Bush,  or  Linganore 
Creek,  to  the  "  Point  of  Rocks,"  was  so  decidedly  preferable  as  to  pre- 
clude any  he.-^itation  in  awarding  it  the  preference.  The  road  was  ac- 
cordingly promptly  located  along  this  line,  and  the  necessary  titles 
were  acquired  to  the  land  upon  almost  the  Avhole  of  that  section  bor- 
dering on  the  Potomac  River.  The  Board  had  scarcely  effected  this 
object,  however,  when  a  conflict  arose  with  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal  Company,  upon  the  subject  of  an  alleged  pre-emption  right,  on 
the  part  of  the  latter,  to  certain  portions  of  the  land  occupied  in  the 
location  of  the  railroad.  This  controversy,  although  su[)posed  at  the 
time  to  be  likely  to  cause  no  delay  in  the  construction  of  the  work, 
proved  by  subsequent  experience  to  be  a  barrier  as  difficult  to  over- 
come as  the  ridges  of  the  Alleghanies. 

The  construction  of  the  road  was  commenced  on  the  4th  of  July, 
1828,  accompanied  by  one  of  the  most  magnificent  processions  of  mili- 
tary and  civic  associations,  trades,  and  professions,  ever  witnessed  in 
the  United  States.  The  "first  stone"  was  laid  by  the  venerable 
Charles  Carroll,  of  CarroUton,  then  over  ninety  years  of  age,  on  the 
Bouth-western  line  of  the  city.  After  he  had  performed  this  service, 
addressing  himself  to  one  of  his  friends,  he  said,  "  I  consider  this 
among  the  most  important  acts  of  ray  life,  second  only  to  my  signing 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  if  even  it  be  second  to  that."  To 
the  end  of  his  life  he  continued  a  firm  unwavering  friend  of  the  work, 
ready  at  all  times,  upon  every  emergency,  to  sustain  it. 

On  the  7t.h  day  of  July,  three  days  after  laying  the  "first  stone," 
the  definitive  location  of  the  road  was  commenced  by  Lieutenants 
Cook,  llazzard,  and  Dillahunty,  under  the  immediate  direction  of 
Captain  McNeill,  to  whom  the  performance  of  this  duty  had  been  in- 
trusted, and  on  the  llth  day  of  July  notice  was  i)ublicly  given  that 


14  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

from  tlie  1st  to  the  11th  day  of  August,  proposals  would  he  received 
for  the  grading  aud  masonry  on  a  distance  not  exceeding  twelve  miles. 
The  location  having  heen  effected,  and  unanimously  approved  by  the 
Board  of  Engineers,  contracts  Avere,  as  early  as  possible,  entered  into 
for  grading  and  masonry  on  the  twenty-six  sections,  into  which  the 
Superintendent  had  subdivided  a  distance  of  eleven  and  three-fourth 
miles,  embracing  that  part  of  the  road  between  the  "  first  stone,"  and 
Ellicott's  Mills  on  the  Patapsco.  These  contracts,  although  thought 
to  be  very  low  at  the  time,  proved  highly  profitable  to  the  contractors, 
who  introduced  temporary  railways  for  the  removal  of  earth,  thus 
causing  a  great  reduction  in  tlie  anticipated  cost. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1828,  twenty  montlis  after  the  first  public 
movement  was  made  in  Baltimore  for  the  formation  of  a  company, 
President  Thomas  reported  to  the  stockholders  that  the  contractors 
had  all  commenced  their  labors. 

In  locating  the  road  a  most  favorable  disposition  towards  the  com- 
pany was  early  manifested  by  tlie  proprietors  of  land  to  cede  the 
ground  necessary  for  the  tracks,  without  charge,  and  the  right  of 
quarrying  was  also  unhesitatingly  granted.  The  proprietors  of  Elli- 
cott's  IMills  also  made  a  gratuitous  donation  of  a  valuable  tract  of  land, 
advantageously  situated,  for  the  purposes  of  a  depot. 

During  the  year  1828,  the  State  had  made  its  first  subscription  to 
the  stock  of  the  road,  to  the  amount  of  $500,000,  and  there  was  a 
further  augmentation  of  the  stock  of  the  Company,  by  individual  sub- 
scriptions, to  the  amount  of  $1,500,000,  so  that  the  entire  capital 
now  reached  ^4,000,000.  An  application  was  also  made  to  Con- 
gress for  an  appropriation  to  aid  the  work.  "William  Patterson, 
George  Brown,  and  Ross  Winans,  (who  had  exhibited  to  the  Board  of 
Directors  an  important  invention  contrived  for  reducing  the  friction 
upon  railroad  cars,)  were  deputed  to  present  to  Congress  a  memorial  on 
the  subject,  dated  the  28tli  January,  1828,  and  signed  by  Charles  Car- 
roll, of  Carrollton,  Philip  E.  Thomas,  aud  other  prominent  and  well- 
known  citizens. 

The  Committee  of  the  Senate  to  whom  tlie  memorial  was  referred, 
reported  a  bill,  authorizing  a  subscription  of  one  milMon  of  dollars. 
The  Connnittoe  of  the  House  of  Representatives  made  a  higlily  flat- 
tering report,  but  declined  reporting  a  bill  or  submitting  any  prop- 
osition on  the  subject,  because  of  the  late  ])enod  of  the  session  at 
which  it  was  brouglit  before  them.  The  apjjUcation  was  renewed  to 
the  next  Congress,  which  met  in  December,  1829,  and  the  Committees 
of  both  Houses  respectively,  recommended  subscriptions  to  the  stock 


THE    CONTRACTS STATE    SUBSCRIPTIONS.  15 

of  tlie  company,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  in  the  construction  of 
the  road  as  far  as  tlie  Point  of  Rocks,  tlie  place  of  junction  with  the 
Canal  Company,  under  the  beUef  that  when  the  two  works  were  com- 
pleted thus  far,  an  opportunity  would  be  atforded  to  ascertain  which 
was  best  adapted  to  the  purpose  of  effecting  a  communication  wdth 
the  West.  The  bill  failed  to  receive  the  sanction  of  .Congress,  princi- 
pally through  the  opposition  of  Gen.  C.  F.  Mercer,  President  of  the 
Canal  Company,  who  at  that  time  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Pioads  and  Canals  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Railroad  Company  soon  discovered 
that  if  they  proceeded  with  the  work  it  must  be  upon  their  own  re- 
sources, witliout  any  governmental  assistance.  Having  full  confidence 
in  the  practicability  of  the  undertaking,  they  determined  to  go  on 
with  renewed  energy.  This  determination  was  clearly  evinced  by  the 
President  and  several  of  the  Directors,  who  advanced  $200,000,  to 
meet  an  extraordinary  expense,  beyond  the  estimates  of  the  Engineer, 
(required  for  tlie  great  cut  of  seventy-eight  feet  deptli,  extending  one 
thonsand  three  hundred  yards,  encountered  a  few  miles  from  the  city,) 
which  at  first  threatened  a  suspension  of  the  progress  of  the  work. 
The  construction  of  a  railroad  being  an  untried  experiment,  they  of 
course  had  many  difficulties  to  encounter;  but  the  energy  of  President 
Tliomas  and  his  Board  of  Directors  inspired  all  with  confidence,  and 
the  enterprise  continued  to  meet  Avith  general  favor  from  all  classes  of 
their  fellow-citizens.  A  perusal  of  the  early  reports  of  President 
Thomas  will  cause  the  reader  to  wonder  that  the  formidable  obstacles 
almost  daily  encountered  did  not  crush  the  energies  of  the  company, 
and  induce  them  to  abandon  the  work  as  hopeless  and  futile. 

The  third  annual  report  of  the  President,  dated  October  12,  1829, 
details  the  rapid  progress  in  grading  and  preparing  the  road  for  the 
rails  to  the  banks  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  extent  to  which  the  oper- 
ations of  the  Company  beyond  that  point  were  retarded  by  the  per- 
verse course  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Company.  That 
company  first  obtained  an  injunction  from  the  County  Court  of  Wash- 
ington, restraining  the  further  proceedings  of  the  Board  in  obtaining 
titles  of  land  over  which  the  railroad  had  been  already  located.  This 
was  followed  by  an  injunction  obtained  by  the  Railroad  Company 
from  the  High  Court  of  Chancery,  restraining  the  Chesapeake  and 
Ohio  Canal  Company  from  taking  any  steps  in  the  construction  or 
locating  of  the  canal,  which  might  render  unavailing  a  decision  in 
favor  of  the  road  on  the  first  injunction.  As  the  owner  in  fee  of  the 
l)ass  of  the  Potomac  River  through  the  Catoctin  ^lountain  at  "  the 


16  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

Point  of  Rocks,"  the  Board  of  Directors  of  tlie  Railroad  still  con- 
tinued to  prosecute  their  -work  at  that  place  ;  and  in  pursuance  of  the 
system  adopted  by  them,  had  advertised  for  contracts  and  commenced 
the  work  there,  when  a  second  injunction  was  obtained,  restraining  the 
Directors  from  constructing  the  road  at  all,  within  the  limits  of  Fred- 
erick County,  although  the  greater  part  of  the  road  through  that 
county  could  never,  in  any  manner,  come  in  collision  with  tlie  canal. 
This  last  injunction,  however,  so  tar  as  it  related  to  land  eastward  of 
"  the  Point  of  Rocks,"  was  subsequently  withdrawn  by  the  Canal 
Company,  but  all  attempts  to  settle  the  ditSculty  continued  to  prove 
unsuccessful. 

During  the  fall  of  the  year  1829,  the  laying  of  the  rails  was  com- 
menced upon  the  division  of  the  road  within  the  city  of  Baltimore. 
Tlie  first  rails  were  laid  upon  wooden  sleepers  at  the  eastern  end  of 
the  Mount  Clare  premises,  near  the  intersection  with  Poppleton  street, 
which  was  not  then  laid  out.  Lieut.  Whistler,  as  already  stated,  was 
the  Superintending  Engineer  for  establishing  the  lines  and  grades  of 
the  road,  and  John  Ready  was  the  Superintendent  of  its  construction. 
Under  their  direction  the  first  rails  Avere  laid  by  Thomas  Mc^fachen, 
foreman,  and  the  folloAving  cariienters  :  Alfred  Ray,  Nicholas  Ridgley, 
Silas  Picket,  and  Wendel  BoUman.  Mr.  Bollman,  Avho  was  then  a 
mere  boy,  has  ever  since  that  day  been  engaged  in  the  employ  of  the 
company,  and  is  now  its  "Master  of  Road,"  (his  duties  embracing 
charge  of  the  bed,  track,  station  buildings,  bridges,  tunnels,  &c.,  &c.,) 
in  which  position  he  is  enabled,  from  his  long  and  thorough  practical 
experience,  to  render  valuable  service. 

In  order  to  obtain  the  benefits  of  whatever  knowledge  and  expe- 
rience works  of  a  similar  character  in  progress  in  England  might 
atford,  the  Board  had  previously  sent  to  Liverpool,  Jonatlian  Knight, 
Civil  Engineer,  and  Captain  William  Gibbs  McNeill,  of  the  United 
States  Tojiographical  Engineers,  with  LieuteHant  George  W.  Whistler, 
of  the  United  States  Army,  who  minutely  examined  every  railroad  of 
consequence  in  the  United  Kingdom.  The  information  they  derived 
Avas  actively  and  usefully  emjjloyed  in  aid  of  the  work,  especially  in 
preparing  the  track,  which  progressed  rapidly  and  satisfactorily. 

The  first  divison  of  the  road  was  opened  for  tlie  trans])ortation  of 
passengers  on  the  22d j)f  Maj',  1830,  being  but  a  little  more  than  eigh- 
teen months  from  the  commencement  of  the  work  upon  it;  but  the 
preparation  of  the  necessary  cars  Avas  not  effected  until  the  early  part 
of  June  following,  from  wjiicli  time  the  travelling  on  this  division,  ex- 
tending toEllicott's  Mill^;,  continued  constant  and  iuiintci-i'ui>ted,  horse 


FIRST    DIVISION    OPENED MAY,   1830.  l7 

and  innlo  power  being  used  for  drawing  the  cars.  Locomotives  at  this 
period  were  in  their  infiincy,  and  until  the  opening  of  tlie  Liverpool 
and  Manchester  Eaih-oad  during  tliis  same  j'ear,  tlie  utmost  speed  in 
travel  obtained  by  locomotives  did  not  exceed  six  miles  an  liour  ;  the 
question,  indeed,  had  not  then  been  decided  as  to  what  kind  of  motive 
l)0wer  would  prove  most  advantageous  for  general  use. 

During  the  first  few  months  after  the  road  was  opened,  the  people 
of  Baltimore  continued  to  throng  to  the  depot,  to  try  this  novel  mode 
of  travel ;  and  Ellicott's  Mills  became  as  familiar  to  them  as  if  within 
the  corporate  limits  of  the  city.  The  number  of  cars  was,  however, 
very  limited,  and  but  one  track  was  completed,  notwithstanding 
which,  the  receipts  up  to  the  first  of  October,  four  months  from  the 
time  of  putting  the  cars  on,  amounted  to  $20,012  36.  The  merchan- 
dise and  produce  offered  was  ten  times  more  than  could  be  conveyed 
with  all  the  means  of  transportation'  in  possession  of  the  company. 

There  being  no  settled  mode  of  propulsion  fixed  upon  for  travel  on 
railroads,  during  the  first  year  of  the  opening  of  the  road,  Evan 
Thomas,  Esq.,  had  constructed,  as  an  experiment,  a  car  with  sails, 
which  he  called  "  the  ^'Eolus,"  which  attracted  much  attention. 

The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Eailroad,  being  the  first  road  in  operation 
in  the  country,  and  almost  in  the  world,  for  the  transportation  of  pas- 
sengers and  merchandise,  of  course  attracted  visitors  from  almost 
everj'  section  of  the  United  States,  as  well  as  from  some  parts  of 
Europe.  Among  these,  as  detailed  in  a  letter  from  Evan  Thomas  to 
George  Brown,  was  Baron  Krudener,  Envoy  from  the  Emperor  of 
Russia,  who  made  an  excursion  in  the  sailing  car,  managing  the  sail 
himself.  On  his  return  from  the  excursion  he  declared  that  he  had 
never  before  travelled  so  agreeably,  and  remarked  that  he  ''  Avould 
send  his  suite  from  "Washington  to  enjoy  sailing  on  the  railroad." 
Tlie  President  of  the  Company,  to  whom  he  had  been  introduced, 
caused  a  model  sailing  car  to  be  constructed,  fitted  with  Winans'  fric- 
tion Avheels,  which  he  presented  to  him,  with  the  reports  that  had 
been  published  by  the  company,  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Emperor. 
Upon  the  reception  of  them,  the  following  acknowledgment  was 
made : 

WAsniNGTON,  irarch  GtJi,  1S30. 

"  Sir  : — I  shall  have  great  pleasure  in  siibmitting  to  his  imperial  majesty, 
the  model  of  a  railroad  car,  and  the  documents  wliicli  accompanied  the  letter 
you  did  me  the  honor  of  addressing  me,  on  the  20th  Febraary  last. 

"The  natnrc  and  importance  of  the  great  undertaking  to  wliicli  you  have 
devoted  your  time  and  exertions,  cannot  fail  of  giving  a  high  degree  of  interest 
to  the  different  documents  relating  to  its  origin  and  progress,  and  I  do  not 


18  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

doubt  but  tbat  his  majesty  will  find  them,  as  well  as  the  ingeniously  improved 
principle  on  which  the  railroad  car  is  constructed,  deserving  of  attention. 

"In  terminating  this  letter,  I  avail  myself  with  pleasure,  of  the  opportunity 
thus  afforded  me,  to  tender  you  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  polite  attentions  of 
which  I  have  individually  been  the  object  on  your  part,  as  that  of  the  other 
gentlemen  connected  with  the  direction  of  the  Company  over  which  you  pre- 
side, and  I  request  you  to  accept  in  their  name  and  your  o-ftTi,  the  assurances 
of  my  high  consideration. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  KRUDENER." 
"To  Philip  E.  Thomas,  Esq.,  President,  ^x.,  dcc.'^ 

A  few  days  after  this,  a  letter  Avas  received  from  the  Minister,  in- 
troducing a  deputation  of  scientific  men  who  had  been  appointed  to 
visit  this  country,  and  who  proceeded  to  a  minute  examination  of  tli© 
raih-oad  and  the  machinery  used  upon  it,  viz.  : 

Wasuington,  March  \lth,  1S30. 

"  Dear  Sir  : — Permit  me  to  introduce  to  you  Mr.  Avinott,  Captain  of  the 
Russian  Navy,  who  will  in  a  few  days  visit  your  city,  and  has  expressed  to  me 
a  strong  wish  of  being  enabled  to  view  the  part  now  completed  of  the  railroad 
near  Baltimore.  The  recollection  of  the  pleasure  I  enjoyed  in  a  similar  cir- 
cumstance, through  yoiir  kindness,  makes  me  desirous  of  procuring  the  same 
satisfaction  to  my  countryman,  who  will  certainly  participate  in  the  high  inter- 
est which  I  felt.  Captain  Avinott  is  attended  by  another  officer  of  our  Navy, 
the  Lieutenant  Amerott,  whom  I  take  also  the  liberty  of  introducing  to  you. 

"  Accept,  my  dear  Sir,  the  expression  of  my  sincere  esteem  and  respect, 

"  KRUDENER." 

"To  Philip  E.  Thomas,  Esq.,  President,  etc." 

Upon  their  return  to  Russia,  the  information  they  communicated 
relative  to  the  machinery  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  led  to 
the  appointment  of  a  delegation  to  make  furtlier  examinations,  and 
was  followed  hy  an  invitation  to  Ross  Winans  to  superintend  the  cpn- 
struction  of  machinery  for  the  extensive  railroads  contemplated  by 
the  Emperor.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  early  introduction  of  rail- 
roads into  Russia,  originated  in  the  disclosures  made  to  his  Court  by 
the  Baron  de  Krudener.  In  a  conversation  between  the  Baron  dc 
Krudener  and  the  President  of  the  railroad,  relative  to  the  eftects  the 
system  would  produce,  Mr.  Thomas  is  said  to  have  remai-ked  that, 
"  should  our  present  anticipations  of  the  efficiency  of  railroads  be 
realized,  a  total  change  would  be  produced  in  commercial  and  social 
intercourse  in  every  country  where  these  roads  might  be  inti'oduced — 
that  tlie  experiment  already  made,  demonstrated  them  to  be  capable 
of  affording  to  an  extensive  continent,  the  facilities  of  intercommuni- 
cation now  incident  to  a  small  island,  and  that  the  discovery  promised 
greater  advantages  to  Russia  and  the  United  States  of  America,  than 


THE    RUSSIAN    MINISTER A    DISCLAIMER.  19 

to  any  other  countries."  He  then  further  observed  that,  "  shouU  tlie 
Emperor  introduce  railroads  into  Russia,  it  would  not  be  many  years 
before  a  railroad  would  be  constructed  between  the  Baltic  and  the 
Black  Sea,  along  the  Rivers  Dwina  and  Dnieper,  and  that  such  a  road 
would  enable  Russia  to  encircle  in  her  arms,  not  only  the  entire  North- 
ern, but  also  the  Eastern  frontier  of  Earope,  and  thus  greatly  extend 
her  power  and  influence."  To  this  the  minister  naively  replied,  "  My 
dear  Sir,  you  cannot  s^i2'>j)0se  that  Russia  has  any  ambition,  that  she 
desires  either  to  increase  her  power  or  influence  !  On  these  points,  she 
will  remain  content  with  her  present  p)Osition  !  "  The  extended  fore- 
thought of  Mr.  Thomas  was  here  again  conspicuously  shown,  for  the 
year  1853  witnessed  the  completion  of  a  large  portion  of  the  great 
railroads  that  are  rapidly  stretching  over  the  Russian  continent,  as 
well  as  the  final  opening  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  itself. 

During  the  year  1831,  under  aathority  given  by  the  City  Council 
of  Baltimore,  the  track  was  laid  down  Pratt  Street  from  Mount  Clare 
to  the  Basin,  and  from  thence  to  the  City  Block,  running  parallel 
with  the  water  front  of  the  city.  • 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1831,  the  opening  of  the  branch  road  to 
Frederick  was  celebrated,  and  on  the  1st  of  April,  1832,  the  whole 
line  was  opened  to  the  Point  of  Rocks,  making  70  miles  of  the  road 
then  finished  and  in  operation.  Stone  was  at  this  time  considered 
superior  to  wood  for  supporting  the  rails,  and  wherever  suitable  stone 
could  be  obtained  it  was  used  in  preference  ;  but  from  near  the  head 
of  the  Patapsco  to  the  Point  of  Rocks,  Avood  of  the  best  quality  had 
been  used  on  account  of  the  absence  of  stone  of  the  description  re- 
quired. Subsequent  experience,  however,  showed  that  this  preference 
for  stone  was  not  well  founded,  and  in  a  few  years  it  was  entirely 
abandoned. 


THE 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF   1857. 


CHAPTER    III. 

niSTOET  OF  THE  BALTIMORE  AND  OUIO  T.AILTMM)— Continued. 

TiiE  injunction  against  the  road  obtained  by  the  Cliesapeake  and  Ohio 
Canal  Company,  now  brouglit  the  progress  of  tlie  work  to  a  complete 
stand.  Early  in  1831,  arrangements  were  made  and  a  charter  obtained 
for  the  construction  of  a  branch  railroad  to  tlie  City  of  Washington. 
Jonathan  Knight,  the  Chief  Engineer  of  the  road,  on  the  6th  of  Jnly, 
1831,  appointed  Benjamin  H.  Latrobe,  and  Henry  J.  Kanney,  as  his 
principal  assistants,  to  conduct  the  necessary  preparatory  measures, 
surveys,  levellings,  drawings,  and  calculations  incident  to  tlie  location 
of  the  route  of  the  contemplated  branch  railroad.  Mr,  Knight  had 
previously,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Latrobe,  made  a  rough  survey 
of  one  route,  and  the  latter  gentleman  was  especially  instrncted  to 
take  charge  of  the  new  surveys  ordered  on  that  line,  whilst  Mr. 
Kanney  was  instructed  to  survey  another  route  that  it  was  thought 
might  prove  more  available  for  the  purposes  required. 

From  the  report  of  the  Superintendent  of  Transportation,  "W. 
"Woodville,  Esq.,  dated  October  1,  1831,  it  appears  tliat  the  aggregate 
revenue  of  the  preceding  five  months  amounted  to  $31,405  24,  and 
that  the  whole  working  expenses  were  but  $10,994  87. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1831,  the  company  issued  an  advertise- 
ment to  the  inventive  genius  and  mechanical  skill  of  the  country, 
offering  most  liberal  inducements  for  the  production  of  locomotive 
steam  engines.  This  being  the  first  proposal  ever  issued  in  the  United 
States,  for  locomotives,  deserves  a  place  here.    It  was  as  follows  : 

"  Office  of  the  Baltimore  and  Oino  Railhoad  Company,  ) 
4th  J<nninn/,1SS1.  S 

"TheT>intimore  niid  Ohio  IJnilroad  Company  being  desirous  of  obtaining 
a  supply  of  L(X'omotivo  Engines  of  A  merican  manufacture,  adapted  to  their 
road,  the  Tresideut  and  Directors  hereby  give  public  notice  that  they  will  pay 


FIRST  AMERICAN    LOCOMOTIVES CONICAL    CAR-WHEELS.        21 

the  sum  of  Four  Thousand  Dollars  for  the  most  approved  ensine  which  shall 
be  delivered  for  trial  upon  the  road  on  or  before  the  1st  of  June,  1831 — and 
that  they  will  also  pay  Three  Thousand  Five  Hundred  Dollars  for  the  engine 
which  shall  be  adjudged  the  next  best  and  be  delivered  as  aforesaid,  subject  to 
the  followmg  conditions,  to  wit : — 
s     "  1.  The  engine  must  Inirn  coke  or  coal,  and  must  consimie  its  own  smoke. 

"  2.  The  engine,  when  in  operation,  must  not  exceed  three  and  one-half 
tons  weight,  and  must,  on  a  level  road,  be  capable  of  drawing  day  by  day, 
fifteen  tons,  inclusive  of  the  weight  oi"  the  wagons,  fifteen  miles  per  hour.  The 
company  to  furnish  wagons  of  \\'iuaus'  construction,  the  friction  of  which  will 
not  exceed  five  pounds  to  the  ton. 

"  3.  In  deciding  on  the  relative  advantages  of  the  several  engines,  the 
company  will  take  into  consideration  their  respective  weights,  power,  and 
durability,  and,  all  other  things  being  equal,  will  adjudge  a  preference  to  the 
engine  weighing  the  least. 

"  4-.  The  flanges  are  to  run  on  the  inside  of  the  rails.  The  form  of  the  cone 
and  flanges,  and  the  tread  of  the  wheels,  must  be  such  as  are  now  in  use  on  the 
road.  If  the  working  parts  are  so  connected  as  to  work  with  the  adhesion  of 
all  the  four  wheels,  then  all  the  wheels  shall  be  of  equal  diameter  not  to  exceed 
three  feet  ;  but  if  the  connection  be  such  as  to  work  with  the  adhesion  of  two 
Avhcels  only,  then  those  two  wheels  may  have  a  diameter  not  exceeding  four 
feet,  and  the  other  two  wheels  shall  be  two  and  a  half  feet  in  diameter,  and  shall 
work  with  ^\'inaus'  friction  wheels,  which  last  will  be  furnished  upon  applica- 
tion to  the  company.  The  flanges  to  be  four  feet  seven  and  a  half  inches 
apai-t  from  outside  to  outside.  The  wheels  to  be  coupled  four  feet  from  centre 
to  centre  in  order  to  suit  curves  of  short  radius. 

"  5.  The  pressure  of  the  steam  not  to  exceed  one  hundred  pounds  to  the 
square  inch  :  and  as  a  less  pressure  will  be  preferred,  the  company  in  deciding 
on  the  advantages  of  the  several  engines  will  take  into  consideration  their  rela- 
tive degrees  of  pi-essure.  The  company  will  be  at  Uberty  to  put  the  boiler, 
fire  tube,  cylinder,  &c.,  to  the  test  of  a  ^iressure  of  water  not  exceeding 
three  times  the  pressure  of  the  steam  intended  to  be  worked,  without  being 
answerable  for  any  damage  the  machine  may  receive  in  consequence  of  such 
test. 

"  6.  There  must  be  two  safety  valves,  one  of  which  must  be  completely  out 
of  the  reach  or  control  of  the  engine  man,  and  neither  of  which  must  be  fast- 
ened down  while  the  engine  is  working. 

"7.  The  engine  and  boiler  must  bo  supported  on  springs  and  rest  on  four 
wheels,  and  the  height  from  the  ground  to  the  top  of  the  chimney  must  not 
exceed  twelve  feet. 

"  8.  There  must  be  a  mercurial  gauge  affixed  to  the  machine  with  an  index 
rod,  showing  the  steam  pressure  above  fifty  pounds  per  square  inch,  and  con- 
structed to  blow  out  at  one  hundi-ed  and  twenty  pounds. 

"  1).  The  engines  which  may  appear  to  offer  the  greatest  advantages  will 
be  subjected  to  the  performance  of  thirty  days'  regular  work  on  the  road;  at 
the  end  of  which  time,  if  they  shall  have  proved  durable  and  continue  to  be 
capable  of  performing  agreeably  to  their  first  exhibition,  as  aforesaid,  they  will 
be  received  and  paid  for  as  here  stipulated. 

"  P.  E.  THOMAS,  President" 

"X.  B. — The  Railroad  Company  will  provide  and  will  furnish  a  tender 
and  sujtjjly  of  water  and  fuel  for  trial.  Persons  desirous  of  examining  the  road 
or  of  obtaining  more  miimte  information,  are  invited  to  address  themselves  to 


22  GREAT    OHIO    AKD    MISSISSIPPI    KAILROAD    OPENING, 

the  President  of  the  company.  The  least  radius  of  curvature  of  the  road  is 
400  feet.  Competitors  who  arrive  with  their  engines  before  the  first  of  Jmie, 
will  be  allowed  to  make  experiments  on  the  road  previous  to  that  day. 

"  The  editors  of  the  National  Gazette,  Pliiladelphia  ;  Commercial  Adver- 
tiser, New  York ;  and  Pittsburg  Statesman,  will  copy  the  above  once  a  week 
for  four  weeks,  and  forward  their  bills  to  tlie  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  Co." 

During  the  summer  of  1831,  in  response  to  this  call  upon  American 
genius,  three  locomotive  steam  engines  were  produced  upon  the  rail- 
road, only  one  of  which,  however,  was  made  to  answer  any  good  pur- 
pose. This  engine,  called  "The  York,"  was  built  at  York,  Pa.,  by 
Phineas  Davis,  (or  rather  "Davis  and  Gartner,")  and  after  undergoing 
certain  modifications,  Avas  found,  capable  of  conveying  fifteen  tons  at 
fifteen  miles  per  hour,  on  a  level  portion  of  the  road.  It  was  emploj^ed 
on  that  part  of  the  road  between  Baltimore  and  Ellicott's  Mills,  and 
generally  performed  the  trip  to  the  mills  in  one  hour,  with  four  cars, 
the  gross  weight  of  which  was  about  fourteen  tons.  This  engine  was 
mounted  on  wheels  like  those  of  the  common  cars,  of  thirty  inches 
diameter,  and  the  motion  was  obtained  by  means  of  gearing  with  a  spur- 
wheel  and  pinion  on  one  of  the  axles  of  the  road  wheels.  The  curva- 
tures were  all  travelled  with  great  facility  by  this  engine — its  greatest 
velocity,  for  a  short  time,  on  strdght  parts  of  the  road  having  been  at 
the  rate  of  thirty  miles  per  hour,  whilst  it  frequently  attained  that  of 
twenty  miles,  and  often  travelled  in  curvatures  of  400  feet  radius,  at 
the  rate  of  fifteen  miles  per  hour.  The  fuel  used  in  it  was  anthracite 
coal,  which  answered  the  pui'pose  well,  but  the  engine  weighing  but 
three  and  a-half  tons  was  found  too  light  for  advantageous  use  on 
ascending  grades. 

The  performance  of  this  engine  fully  confirmed  the  Board  and  its 
engineer  corps,  that  locomotive  engines  might  be  successfully  used  on 
a  railway  having  curves  of  400  feet  radius,  and  from  that  time  for- 
Avard,  every  encouragement  was  given  by  the  Company  to  the  in- 
ventive genitis  of  the  country,  to  impi-ove  on  the  i:)artially  successful 
experimental  engine  that  had  been  produced  by  Mr.  Davis.  In  the 
Fourth  Annual  Report  of  the  President  and  Directors  to  the  Stock- 
holders, (in  1831,)  it  is  remarked  that,  "  by  the  many  improvements 
made  in  the  application  of  moving  power,  an  immense  reduction  in 
the  cost  of  transportation,  and  velocity  have  been  eflected,"  Amongst 
the  most  valuable  of  these,  the  Report  states  that  "  the  combined  cy- 
lindrical and  conical  cai'-icJieels,  invented  by  the  chief  engineer  of  the 
company,  (Mr.  Knight.)  have  been  found  of  the  utmost  importance  by 
the  facilities  they  afford  in  turning  curves."  It  is  stated,  that,  "  by 
the  aid  of  this  highly  valuable  improvement,  every  doubt  is  removed 


ORIGIXAL    RAILWAY    MACHINEHY ITS    INVENTORS.  23 

of  our  being  able  to  employ  locomotive  engines  upon  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Eoad."  ..."  This  discovery  is  the  more  important  to 
us,"  the  Report  continues,  "  inasmuch  as  from  the  surface  of  the 
country  over  which  our  route  must  be  conducted,  numerous  curves  in 
the  tracks  will  be  unavoidable;  and  the  great  advantage  of  this  form 
of  wheels  consists  in  their  so  readily  accommodating  themselves  to  the 
degrees  of  curvature  upon  the  road,  that  there  scarcely  appears  to  be 
an}'  perceptible  obstacle  to  the  passage  of  the  cars  over  them,  greater 
than  on  a  straight  line."  Until  this  discovery  it  was  regarded  as  a 
settled  princii)le  that  no  railway  car  would  travel  safely  on  a  curve  of 
much  less  radius  than  one  thousand  feet,  Avhile  with  these  wheels, 
they  traversed  curves  of  four  hundred  feet  radius  at  a  high  speed.  It 
was  afterwards  found  that  this  wheel  wore  the  inner  edges  of  the  rails 
very  rapidly,  and  it  has  since  been  modified  to  prevent  that  result. 

On  the  1st  of  April,  1832,  the  first  train  of  cars,  bearing  produce,] 
which  had  descended  the  Potomac  to  the  Point  of  Eocks,  arrived  in 
Baltimore.  The  trade  with  that  point  continued  to  increase  rapidly, 
and  warehouses,  dwelling  and  public  liouses,  were  erected  there,  so 
that  quite  a  town  soon  formed.  The  travel  and  trade  to  Frederick, 
and  the  increasing  business  of  that  portion  of  the  main  stem  between 
tiie  Monocacy  and  the  Point  of  Rocks,  were  soon  found  to  constitute 
no  unimportant  item  in  the  general  receipts  of  the  company. 

In  the  construction  of  the  road  from  Baltimore  to  the  Point  of 
Rocks,  every  mode  suggested  up  to  that  time  by  science  or  experience 
had  been  tested,  and  thus  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  must  be 
regarded  as  entitled  to  the  merit  of  solving  most  of  the  problems  wliicli 
presented  themselves  first  in  connection  with  that  great  system  of 
travel  and  inland  transjjortation.  Ross  Winans,  John  Elgar,  (inventor 
of  switches,  turntables,  chill  bearings,  plate-wheels,  &c..)  Phineas 
Davis,  and  Evan  Thomas,  were  among  the  most  conspicuous  of  the 
ingenious  men  who  wrought  tliese  results.  It  was  well  said  of  the 
Company  by  the  American  Railroad  Journal,  of  1835,  that  ''  tlieir 
reports  liave  gone  forth  as  a  text-book,  and  their  road  and  work- 
sliops  have  been  a  lecture-room  to  thousands  Avho  are  now  prac- 
tising and  improving  upon  their  experience.  This  country  owes  to  the 
enterprise,  public  spirit,  and  perseverance  of  the  citizens  of  Baltimore, 
a  debt  of  gratitude  of  no  ordinary  magnitude,  as  will  be  seen  from  the 
President's  report  in  relation  to  their  improvements  upon  and  per- 
formances with  their  locomotive  engines,  when  compared  with  the 
performances  of  the  most  powerful  engines  in  Europe,  or  rather  in 
imagination,  in  1820,  only  six  years  ago."     The  granite  and  iron  rail; 


24  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

the  wood  and  iron  on  stone  blocks ;  the  wood  and  iron  on  wooden 
sleepers,  supported  by  broken  stone ;  the  same  supported  by  longitu- 
dinal ground-sills,  in  place  of  broken  stones ;  the  log  rail,  formed  of 
trunks  of  trees,  worked  to  a  surface  on  one  side  to  receive  the  iron, 
and  supported  by  wooden  sleepers ;  and  the  wrought  iron  rails  of  the 
English  mode;  had  all  been  laid  down,  and  as  early  as  the  year  1832, 
formed  different  portions  of  the  work.  It  was  at  this  period  of  the 
history  of  the  Company  that  President  Thomas  exclaimed  in  his  annual 
report : 

"  Speculation  is  no  longer  necessary.  Facto  now  stand  in  the  place  of 
opinions — results  in  the  place  of  calculations — and  upon  a  full  and  careful 
exaininatiou,  tlie  Board  feel  no  hesitation  in  assuring  the  Stockholders  that 
the  completion  of  the  work  to  its  termination  on  the  Ohio,  upon  the  plan  first 
contemplated,  with  a  double  track  of  rails,  is  perfectly  practicable  within  the 
original  estimate  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  per  mile,  inchiding,  in  the  average, 
the  greater  outlay  upon  the  first  division  of  the  road,  and  this,  too,  without 
the  sacrifice  to  economy  of  any  one  requisite  of  durability  and  excellence." 

The  adaptation  of  the  railroad  system  to  general  traffic — the  point 
so  long  disputed — was  thus  fully  and  for  ever  set  at  rest  by  the  Bal- 
timore and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  which,  although  surrounded  by 
numerous  and  complicated  difDculties,  presented  one  of  the  very  few 
undertakings  of  public  works  by  private  means  at  that  period,  in 
which  no  reasonable  hope  had  been  disappointed,  and  every  expecta- 
tion realized.  All  species  of  agricultural  productions,  lime,  timber, 
lumber,  fire- wood,  and  even  paving  stones,  which  were  before  value- 
less to  their  owners,  were  daily  brought  to  Baltimore,  with  profit  to 
those  using  the  road  as  a  means  of  transportation  for  articles  so  bulky 
and  so  cheap;  and  in  return,  at  an  enlianced  toll,  but  with  equally 
profitable  results,  plaister  of  Paris,  coal,  boards,  bricks,  and  scrap  iron 
were  sent  into  the  interior. 

In  January,  1832,  the  Court  of  Appeals  decided  the  cases  of  in- 
junctions obtained  by  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  Company 
against  the  Railroad  Company,  to  prevent  the  latter  from  appropriat- 
ing or  using  land  for  the  road  until  the  Canal  Company  should  have 
located  its  work  between  the  Point  of  Rocks  and  Harper's  Ferry. 
The  Canal  Company  asserted  a  "  prior  and  paramount "  right  of  way 
through  that  region,  and  to  that  effect  the  Court  of  Appeals  decided 
in  favor  of  the  Canal  Company.  The  progress  of  the  railroad  was 
thus  arrested,  and  it  was  understood  that  the  available  space  in  the 
district  to  be  pre-occupied  by  the  Canal  Company  was  either  too  nar- 
row to  admit  the  parallel  passage  of  the  canal  and  railroad,  or  would, 
at  least,  be  used  by  the  Canal  Company  for  its  canal  at  its  usual  ex- 


SETTLKMKXT    OF    CAXAL    CONTROVERSY.  25 

treine  breadth,  and  thus  Avould  unavoidably  exclude  the  railroad.  A. 
long  and  disagreeable  controversy  and  litigation  ensued.  The  subject 
was  finally  carried  into  the  Legislature,  where,  during  the  session  of 
1832-3,  the  Hon.  Charles  F.  Mayer,  in  the  Senate,  from  Baltimore,  pro- 
posed a  committee  of  the  two  Houses  for  harmonizing,  if  possible, 
tlie  adverse  views  of  the  companies,  without,  by  threats  of  the  iState's 
severity,  enforcing  concessions  from  the  Canal  Company.  The  propo- 
sition was  adopted,  and  the  committee  was  filled  by  the  appointment 
on  the  part  of  the  Senate,  of  Messrs.  Mayer,  Figman,  and  Emory — and 
on  the  part  of  the  House  of  Delegates,  of  Messrs.  Pratt,  Dudley,  Hard- 
ing, Duvall,  (of  A.  A.,)  Miller,  Nicols,  and  Harris.  The  two  committees 
united  as  a  joint  body,  and  Mr.  Mayer  was  the  Ciiairman.  Their  in- 
vestigations and  deliberations  Avere  extensive,  and  assiduously  pur- 
sued ;  but,  from  first  to  last,  Avere  conducted  in  a  most  pacific  and 
lil)eral  spirit  by  all,  either  in  the  committee  or  before  it.  Genl.  Mercer 
was  present  on  the  part  of  the  Canal  as  the  President  of  the  Company, 
and  po>sessed  of  ail  its  views,  and  John  H.  B.  Latrobe,  of  Baltimore, 
zealously  and  ably  represented  before  the  committee  the  interests  of 
tlie  Railroad  Company. 

Tiie  result  was  a  convincing  and  very  able  report  prepared  by  Mr. 
^Nfayer,  as  the  Chairman  of  the  joint  committee  of  the  two  Houses, 
recommending  an  adjustment,  of  the  terms  of  which  the  following 
summary  was  submitted,  viz. : 

"  1.  The  Canal  Company  assents  to  the  joint  construction  with  the  canal, 
of  the  railroad  through  the  passes  of  the  Point  of  Rocks  to  Harper's  Ferry. 

"  2.  When  the  railroad  shall  be  completed  to  that  point,  the  .State  shall 
subscribe  for  twenty-five  hundred  shares  of  the  stock  of  the  Canal  Company. 

"  3.  The  Canal  Company  is  to  be  allowed  to  sell  the  water  powers  of  the 
canal  under  the  conditions  of  the  grant  made  by  Virginia  of  the  like  privilege, 
and  with  the  farther  condition  that  the  mill-seats  that  may  be  disposed  of, 
shall  not  he  u.-^ed  for  grist  mills. 

"  4.  The  Railroad  Company  is  to  be  allowed  to  begin  the  construction 
of  the  road  at  tlie  Point  of  Rocks  at  any  time  after  the  tenth  day  of  May.  1 
The  Canal  Company  binds  itself  to  graduate  the  railroad  through  the  passes 
of  the  Point  of  Rocks  for  one  Imndred  thousand  dollars ;  and  will  bear  the 
expense  of  any  additional  cost  of  graduation.  The  width  of  the  canal  is  to  be 
maintained  at  fifty  feet;  but  if  the  road  be  impracticable  at  any  points  in  the 
passes  with  that  width,  the  width  may  be  contracted  to  forty  feet,  if  the  com- 
missioners, hereafter  to  be  mentioned,  shall  deem  that  necessary.  Thj  Canal 
Company,  b.owever,  within  a  limited  tinie  itself  miy  "graduate  the  railroad, 
preserving  a  greater  width  for  the  canal  than  forty  feet,  if  it  shall  differ  in 
opinion  witli  the  commissioners. 

"  r>.  The  railroad  is  to  have  a  breadth  of  not  less  than  twenty  feet  through 
the  passes  of  the  Point  of  Rocks,  and  a  curvature  of  not  less  than  four  hun- 
dred feet  radius :  and,  where  it  deviates  from  a  horizontal  line,  an  elevation 
not  exceeding  thirty  feet  to  a  mile. 
2 


26  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

"  G.  To  determine  questions  as  to  construction  of  the  road  between  the 
companies,  a  Board  of  Commissioners  is  to  he  created,  formed  of  tliree  engi- 
neers, one  chosen  by  the  Canal  Company,  one  by  the  Raih-oad  Company,  and 
another  by  the  President  of  the  United  States.  These  commissioners,  too,  are 
to  determine  the  amomit  of  damage  payable  by  the  Railroad  Company  to  the 
Canal  Company  for  any  interruption  during  the  construction  and  in  conse- 
quence of  it,  of  the  use  of  any  part  of  the  canal.  Under  the  direction  of  tlie 
Commissioners,  a  fence  is  to  be  erected  between  the  two  works,  sufficient  to 
secure  the  horses  used  on  the  canal  from  accidents  from  the  passage  of  the 
locomotive  engines." 

A  bill  substantially  in  accordance  with  the  terras  of  the  report  be- 
came a  law  on  the  22d  March,  1833.  Thus  ended  the  contlict  between 
the  two  companies ;  and  each  has,  under  this  prompt  and  happy  ad- 
justment, adequately  and  peacefully  constructed  its  work,  the  Kailroad 
Company  paying  the  Canal  Company  $260,000  for  all  claims  under  the 
compromise  act.  The  progress  of  the  road  was  delayed  some  two 
years,  however,  by  these  unnatural  impediments. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1838,  the  Canal  Company  commenced  the  joint 
construction  of  the  railroad  and  canal,  above  the  Point  of  Rocks,  and 
on  the  1st  of  December,  1834,  the  road  was  open  to  Harper's  Ferry. 

The  corj^s  of  engineers  under  the  direction  of  Benjamin  II.  Latrobe, 
consisting  of  Henry  H.  Ivrebs,  Oliver  C.  Morris,  John  W.  Smith, 
George  F.  Dunbar,  "William  K.  Coulter,  John  Suiall,  and  Ileury  E.  Ila- 
zelliurst,  in  the  mean  time,  during  the  canal  litigation,  were  rapidly 
bringing  their  surveys  for  the  Washington  branch  to  a  close. 

During  the  year  ending  October  1st,  1832,  the  receipts  of  the  road 
amounted  to  $130,937  70,  and  the  working  expenses  amounted  to 
$69,534  47. 

In  September,  1832,  steel  springs  were  first  placed  upon  the  loco- 
motive "  York  "  and  tender,  as  an  experiment,  and  demonstrated  their 
utility  in  regulating  the  motion,  and  greatly  diminisliing  the  jar  and 
consequent  injury  to  the  mad.  This  also  suggested  the  propriety  of 
making  a  further  experiment;  by  placing  a  few  of  the  burden  cars  on 
steel  springs,  by  wliich  it  was  found  that  they  admitted  one-third  more 
loading  without  any  increase  of  damage  to  the  road  or  car,  and  tliat 
it  could  be  propelled  by  the  same  motive  power  that  tlie  present  fix- 
ture of  the  cars  and  their  weight  or  load  required. 

Mr.  Gillingliam,  the  superintendent  of  machinerj^,  under  whose  di- 
rections the  experiments  had  been  made,  reported  tliat  the  average 
expense  per  day  of  locomotive  power,  was  found  to  be  $16,  whilst  the 
same  Avork  done  by  horse  power  averaged  $33  per  day,  sliowing  a 
clear  gain  by  locomotive  power  of  $17  per  day,  or  over  $500  per 
month. 


THE    WASHINGTON    RAILROAD    BEGUN — LEGISLATION.  27 

On  tlie  9tli  of  March,  1833,  -was  passed  the  final  act  of  Assembly 
iiiicler  which  the  raih-oad  to  Washington  was  constructed.  The  privi- 
lege and  facilities  to  make  this  road  were  obtained  with  much  difficulty, 
and  a  very  arduous  struggle,  at  no  less  than  three  sessions  of  the  Mary- 
land legislature.  The  enterprise  was  regarded  as  rich  in  prospects  of 
profit;  and  an  interest  for  the  State  was  thouglit  desiraUe,  provided, 
tlie  experiment  was  made  in  the  first  instance  by  otiiers  than  the  State, 
and  she  were  allowed,  ^qfO?l  the  result  proving  profitable^  to  assume  a 
share  (which  was  fixed  at  five-eighths)  of  tlie  stock.  The  first  act,  of 
22d  February,  1831,  was  framed  upon  that  policy,  and  at  the  same  time 
allowed  preferences  in  the  stock  subscription  to  the  Washington  and 
Baltimore  Turripike  Company,  which  company  had  interposed,  com- 
plaining of  the  proposed  railroad  as  thwarting  theirs,  and  interfering 
with  their  franchise!  This  act,  thus  embarrassed  with  reservations, 
was  unavailing;  and,  in  consequence,  on  the  14th  March,  1832,  the 
second  act  was  passed,  which  still  secured  to  the  State  her  ultimate 
five-eighths  of  the  stock,  and  modified  the  narrowness  of  the  first  act, 
by  allowing  the  Baltimore  and  Oliio  Railroad  to  subscribe  for  stock  not 
taken,  after  a  limited  period,  by  individuals ;  and,  to  pay  for  it,  allowed 
the  company  to  borrow  money  on  pledge  of  tlie  company's  property. 
But  there  was  a  clause  which  allowed  subscribers  the  enjoyment  for 
only  eight  years  of  the  dividends  of  the  separate  road  to  Washington, 
obliging  them  after  that  period  to  be  numbered  with  the  stockholders 
at  large  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  and  to  have 
their  Washington  Railroad  stock  treated  as  general  Ohio  Railroad 
stock.  This  second  act,  with  such  stinted  and  encumbered  privileges, 
remained  a  dead  letter:  and  thus  was  produced  the  application  for  the 
final  act  just  adverted  to.  Tiiis  act  autliorizes  a  subscription  not  de- 
ferred (and  awaiting  ascertained p^rofitahleness)^  but  absolute  on  the  part 
of  the  State  to  extent  of  §500,000  on  $1,000,000  being  subscribed  by 
others,  coupled  however  with  an  exaction  (yet  in  force)  of  one-fifth  to 
he  paid  to  the  State  of  the  gross  passage  money  of  travellers,  and  pro- 
viding that  that  tribute  to  the  State  shall  not  in  the  instance  of  any 
passenger  be  less  than  twenty-five  cents.  No  better  terms  could  be 
obtained  from  the  legislature;  although  the  taxation  of  one-fifth  to 
the  passage  money  was  combated  by  members  of  the  legislature  very 
earnestly,  and  treated  as  an  ignoble  requisition.  Even  this  last  act, 
with  all  the  reservation  in  favor  of  the  State,  did  not  pass  the  Senate 
without  strong  opposition  to  the  fifth  section,  which  allows  the  Balti' 
more  and  Ohio  Railroad  to  subscribe  the  stock  for  the  road  that  might 
be  needed  beyond  the  State's  share  ;  and  to  pledge  the  company's  es- 


28  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD     OPKNING. 

tate  for  money  to  pay  the  subscription.  This  was  a  vital  clause  of  tlie 
bill  and  without  it  the  act  would  probably  have  been  inoperative, 
Mr.  Mayer  (representing  Baltimore),  in  the  Senate,  took  his  stand  in 
favor  of  the  Ohio  Eailroad  Company's  privileges  under  that  section, 
and  was  alone  intrusted  by  the  friends  of  the  bill  in  the  Senate,  with 
the  defence  of  the  company's  rights  in  that  critical  issue. 

To  the  sagacious  foresight  of  Piiii.ip  E.  Thomas,  are  the  people  of 
Baltimore  and  Washington  indebted  for  the  origin  and  completion  of 
this  valuable  road  ;  for,  after  planning  it,  he  secured  the  means  for  it 
by  the  most  vigorous  measures. 

The  great  bridge  over  the  Patapsco  at  Washington  junction,  was 
immediately  put  under  contract,  and  the  grading  of  tlie  line  of  the  road 
progressed  with  great  activity.  The  proprietors  of  the  land  over 
which  the  road  was  to  pass,  generally  ceded  tlie  right  of  way  gratui- 
touslv,  and  the  Avork  progressed  without  any  delays  or  litigations. 

During  the  summer  of  1833,  the  company  having,  by  a  series  of 
experiments,  and  gradual  improvements  in  the  various  machinery  and 
motive  power,  arrived  at  a  state  of  information  sufficient  to  become 
the  manufacturers  of  their  own  engines,  and  the  Board  having  hitherto 
been  unable  to  enter  into  satisfactory  contracts  for  them,  they  deter- 
mined to  erect  upon  their  own  grounds  suitable  buildings,  and  provide 
the  requisite  means  to  construct  all  that  they  might  require,  as  well  as 
to  keep  them  in  a  state  of  repair.  It  was  thus  that  the  extensive  tem- 
ples of  industry  at  the  Mount  Clare  Station  in  Baltimore  had  their 
origin,  before  which,  the  repairs  were  done  by  contract. 

Whikt  the  construction  of  the  Branch  Road  to  Washington  City 
was  progressing,  an  application  was  made  to  Congress  for  aid  to  make 
the  road  within  the  District,  with  the  intention  of  terminating  it  at  or 
near  the  General  Post  Office,  and  a  bill  granting  .$3.j0,000  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  road  and  the  erection  of  depots,  buildings,  &c.,  was 
passed  by  the  Senate,  but  failed  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  mainly 
through  the  unrelenting  opposition  of  tlie  canal  interest  there. 

The  magnificent  granite  viaduct  above  alluded  to,  consisting  of 
eight  elliptical  arches  of  58  feet  span  each,  with  the  roadway  OG  feet 
from  the  surface  of  the  water,  was  designed  by  Benjamin  II.  Latrobe, 
Esq.,  and  was  at  the  time  tlie  largest  structure  of  the  kind  in  the 
United  States.  In  his  estimate  of  the  cost  of  this  great  work,  Mr.  La- 
trobe came  within  the  actual  expense  of  its  construction.  This  was 
also  tlie  case  witii  his  estimates  of  the  cost  of  the  Washington  Branch, 
the  actual  expense  falling  short  of  the  original  estimate. 

Up  to  July,  1834,  tliore  were  but  three  locomotives  on  the  road, — 


ORIGIN    OF    TIIK    KKJIIT-WII EELEU    CAR — NEW    I5HEAK.  29 

the  "  Atlantic,"  "  York,''  and  "  Franklin," — when  fonr  more,  called  the 
"Arabian,"  the  "  Mercury,"  the  "  Antelope,"  and  the  "American," 
(the  last  two  built  by  Charles  lleeder,  of  Baltimore,)  were  introduced, 
the  Board  having  persisted  in  refusing  to  adopt  the  English  locomotive, 
under  the  belief  that  it  Avould  not  answer  on  the  heavy  curvatures 
of  their  road,  and  because  it  was  unable  to  burn  anthracite  coal  for 
fuel,  to  the  use  of  which  the  Board  attached  much  importance.  There 
were  also  eight  more  locomotives  ordered  and  under  contract  in  the 
fall  of  1884. 

Up  to  this  period,  the  cars  in  use  upon  railroads  were  all  of  a  small 
size,  with  four  wheels,  and  but  little  larger  than  the  heavy  stage  coach. 
Mr.  George  Brown,  the  Treasurer  of  the  company,  who  Avas  ever  alive 
to  its  interests,  liad  long  entertained,  with  many  others,  the  idea  of  a 
car  of  much  greater  capacity.  By  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Ross  Winans, 
the  large  eight-wheel  cars  were  devised  and  constructed,  and  put  upon 
the  road  for  the  transportation  of  passengers,  the  Avheels  being  ar- 
ranged somewhat  as  they  are  now  in  use  on  all  railroads.  Perhaps  in 
no  other  improvement  in  the  operation  of  railroads,  was  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Company  more  conspicuous,  even  at  this  early  day, 
than  in  the  entire  origination  and  perfection  of  the  eight-wheeled  car. 

The  further  prosecution  of  the  road  beyond  Harper's  Ferry,  was 
suspended  in  1882,  by  a  clause  in  the  compromise  relative  to  the 
"  Point  of  Rocks  "  Avith  the  Canal  Com[)any,  which  bound  the  Railroad 
Company  not  to  attempt  to  ascend  the  banks  of  the  Potomac  beyond 
Harper's  Ferry  until  the  canal  should  be  finished  to  Cumberland,  pro- 
vided tliis  were  done  within  the  time  allowed  by  the  existing  charter 
of  the  Canal  Companj'.  The  road  from  AVinchester  to  Harper's  Ferry 
was  then  in  course  of  construction;  and  in  1834,  in  view  of  its  prob- 
able early  connection  there  with  the  road  leading  to  Baltimore, 
thoughts  were  entertained  of  effecting  a  connection  Avith  the  Ohio  by 
means  of  a  lateral  road  from  Winchester  to  Staunton,  and  from  Staun- 
ton flirough  Jenning's  Gap.  In  anticipating  the  adoption  of  this,  how- 
ever, as  a  i)racticable  mode  of  establishing  the  desired  connection  with 
the  Avestern  waters,  the  Board  never  lost  sight  of  the  original  route 
by  the  Potomac,  and  in  their  eighth  annual  report,  dated  October  6, 
1834,  they  declare  that,  "  tliey  firmly  believe  tJiut  it  will,  one  day,  and 
thai  not  a  very  remote  one,  l)e  fully  accomplished.'''' 

The  receipts  of  the  company  during  the  year  1832,  Avere  $205,430  58, 
and  tiie  Avorking  expenses  $132,802  41,  being  an  increase  over  the 
receipts  of  tlie  preceding  year  of  $9,750,  and  a  diminution  in  the 
expenses  of  $5,021. 


30  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    KAILPvOAD    OPENING. 

On  the  20th  of  July,  1835,  the  "Wasliington  Branch  road  was 
opened  with  suitable  ceremonies,  from  Baltimore  to  Bladensburg,  and 
one  month  after,  on  the  25t.h  of  August,  the  whole  road  to  Washing- 
ton City  was  completed  and  thrown  open  to  trade  and  travel.  During 
the  first  four  months  of  the  opening  of  the  Branch  road,  the  travel  on 
it  averaged  200  persons  per  day,  far  exceeding  the  most  sanguine  ex- 
pectations of  the  Board, 

The  original  ten  acres  occupied  by  Mount  Clare  Station  at  Balti- 
more, was  presented  to  the  company  by  the  late  James  Carroll,  but 
having  been  found  insufficient,  as  early  as  1835,  eleven  adjoining  acres 
were  purchased. 

A  new  and  valuable  break,  invented  by  Evan  Thomas,  Esq.,  for 
passenger  cars,  was  introduced  on  the  road  in  the  year  1835,  and 
proved  most  eflicient  and  durable.  The  brakes  in  use  previous  to  this 
invention,  were  not  only  inefficient,  but  they  were  complicated,  and 
frequently  required  repairs.  Tliey  were  not  of  sufficient  power  to  con- 
trol a  loaded  eight-wheel  car  upon  the  ascents  and  descents  of  the  road, 
and  it  is  believed  that  loith  them,  those  cars  could  not  have  been  safely 
used.  In  view  of  this  circumstance,  the  value  and  importance  of  this 
timely  invention  of  the  President's  brother  can  hardly  be  overesti- 
mated. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1885,  the  number  of  locomotives  in  nse  on 
the  road  was  seven,  passenger  cars  forty-four,  and  burthen  cars  one 
thousand  and  seventy-eight. 

Benj.  H.  Latrobe  had,  previous  to  this  time,  been  detailed  to  re- 
connoitre a  route  from  Chambersburg  to  connect  with  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Road  near  Harper's  Ferry,  which  duty  he  performed  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  parties  concerned. 

During  the  summer  of  1835,  Mr.  Knight,  the  chief  engineer, 
Avas  directed,  at  the  instance  of  the  people  of  Wheeling,  to  make  a 
reconnoissance  between  Cumberland  and  the  Oliio,  and  inasmuch  as 
the  charter  of  the  company  from  Pennsylvania  required  that  the  road, 
if  it  entered  that  State,  should  be  constructed  to  Pittsburg,  the  recon- 
noissance was  extended  to  tlie  two  cities.  His  report  proved  the  all- 
important  fact,  that  the  mountains  between  Cumberland  and  the  West- 
ern waters  could  be  passed  without  the  use  of  stationary  engines,  with 
locomotives  and  their  trains.  The  Board,  on  receiving  his  report,  urged 
the  importance  of  carrying  the  road  to  both  of  these  cities  simul- 
taneously.    President  Tliomas,  in  his  ninth  annual  report,  says : 

"Admirably  situated  as  Baltimore  is,  at  the  liead  of  the  Chesapeake,  and 
in  closer  proximity  to  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  than  any  other  of  the  Atlaii- 


RETIREMENT    OF    PRESIDENT    THOMAS IIIS    SERVICES.  31 

tic  cities,  all  that  is  uccessarj"^  to  secure  her  rapid  growth  in  wealth,  power,  and 
importance,  is  uuited  effort  among  her  people,  aided  by  the  State  of  wliicli  she 
is  the  commercial  capital.  The  Susquehanna  Road  from  the  North,  the  AVasli- 
ington  Branch  from  the  South,  the  Port  Depositc  Railroad  from  the  East,  and 
the  main  stem  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  from  the  West,  may  be 
considered  as  so  many  gi-eat  arteries,  whose  prolonged  extension  and  spreading 
ramifications  tend  to  increase  and  secure  the  healthy  and  vigorous  growth  of 
the  city,  which  may  be  termed  the  heart  of  the  system." 

Mr.  Knight,  in  the  fall  of  1835,  announcing  that  B.  IT.  Latrobe,  one 
of  his  able  assistants,  liaving  been  appointed  Cliief  Engineer  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Port  Deposit  Eaih-oad,  was  tlien  ont  of  the  service  of 
the  company,  gave  liim  great  credit  for  liis  ability,  referring  to  the 
fact  tliat  lie  had  previously  designed  the  plan  of  the  extensive  viaduct 
and  bridge  over  the  canal  and  Potomac  River  at  Harper's  Ferry. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  183G,  after  having  been  President  of  the  com- 
pany for  ten  successive  years,  Mr.  Thomas  retired  from  the  post  he  had 
filled  with  so  much  honor  to  himself  and  advantage  to  the  company. 
His  close  and  unceasing  application  to  the  arduous  duties  of  his  posi- 
tion, had  been  at  the  sacrifice  of  health  and  private  business,  which  he 
had  uniformly  regarded  as  of  secondary  importance  to  the  prosecution 
of  the  great  enterprise  of  which  he — in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Brown 
— was  the  originator^  founder,  and  first  promoter.  Having  induced 
his  fellow-citizens  to  embark  their  means  in  the  construction  of  the 
road,  and  procured  large  appropriations  from  the  city  and  State,  to 
aid  in  its  prosecution,  it  may  naturally  be  supposed  he  felt  a  great  per- 
sonal anxiety  with  I'egard  to  it,  an  anxiety  that  made  the  many  disap- 
pointments, vexatious  interruptions,  and  dark  forebodings  of  its  oppo- 
nents weigh  heavily  on  his  mind.  He  never,  however,  fiiltered  in  the 
confident  belief  of  its  ultimate  success,  and  of  the  final  approval  of  his 
fellow-citizens;  and  to  him  the  completion  of  the  road  to  the  Western 
waters  must  have  been  a  glorious  comsummation, — "  long  looked  for 
and  anxiously  hoped."  Mr.  Thomas  (as  well  as  his  worthy  compeer, 
Mr.  Brown)  is  happily  still  living,  and,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
two,  is  fully  enabled  to  realize  in  his  own  useful  lifetime,  the  wonderful 
results  which  his  good  genius  had  so  largely  planned.  Mr.  Thomas 
has  occupied  much  of  his  time  in  later  years,  as  a  general  agent  for  the 
Seneca  Indians,  for  whom  he  has  performed  much  good  service,  ren- 
dered gratuitously,  as  a  return  for  which,  they  have  adopted  him  into 
their  tribe,  and  made  him  their  mini^tei"  plenipotentiary  in  all  their 
relations  with  the  United  States  government. 

The  following  i  roceedings  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Thomas  as  President  of  the  company, 


32  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

are  a  coiidusive  tribute  to  liis  private  wortli  and  his  eminent  ?ervices 
to  tlie  road : 

"  Office  of  the  Baltimore  axp  Omo  Eatlway  Companv, 
June  -mh,  1S3C. 

"  At  a  meeting  this  day,  the  following  proceedings  were  had  :  Joseph  W. 
Pattersou  was  appointed  President  pro  tern,  ^^'hen  the  committee  appointed 
to  confer  with  Philip  E.  Thomas,  Esq.,  iu  regard  to  his  resignation  of  the 
Presidency  of  this  Company,  tendered  by  him  to  the  Board  on  that  date,  re- 
ported verbally,  that  they  had  held  seversd  interviews  with  i\Ir.  Thomas  on  the 
subject,  and  that  it  had  coutinTied,  against  their  remonstrances,  to  he  his 
earnest  wish  to  withdraw  from  his  actual  situation ;  that  the  Board  were  aware 
that  such  had  been  his  desire  for  a  long  time  past,  and  that  he  had  only  been 
prevented  from  taking  the  step  sooner  in  condescension  to  the  wishes  of  the 
Board.  The  Committee  relnctantly,  and  with  regret,  were  obliged  to  add, 
that  in  consideration  of  the  impaired  condition  of  Mr.  Thomas's  health,  they 
believe  it  indispensable  to  its  restoration,  and  to  his  comfort,  that  he  should  be 
relieved  from  the  confinement  and  labor  incident  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  the  office  which  has  been  so  ably  filled  by  him. 

"  Whereupon  on  motion  of  Mr.  Hawkins,  it  was 

"  Jie^oh'ed,  That  this  Board  accept  the  resignation  of  P.  E.  Thomas,  Esq., 
of  the  Presidency  of  this  Company,  with  deep  and  profound  regiTt. 

"  On  motion  of  Mr.  Brown,  seconded  by  Mr.  McKim,  the  following  resolu- 
tions were  mianimously  adopted,  viz. : 

Hfsohed,  That  the  most  unfeigned  and  cordial  thanks  of  this  Board  are  due 
to  Mr.  Thomas  for  the  long,  faithful,  and  valuable  services  rendered  by  him  to 
this  Company — services  which  none  but  those  associated  with  him  in  the  pro- 
secution of  this  most  arduous  work  are  capable  of  appreciating,  and  rendered 
at  an  expense  of  private  interest,  which  it  is  difficult  to  calculate,  but  which 
must  be  well  understood  by  this  community  ;  and  of  health  which  has  been 
sacrificed  by  close  and  continuous  application  to  the  business  of  the  Company. 
On  the  commencement  of  this  work,  of  which  he  has  been  iu  fact  the  father 
and  projector,  every  thing  connected  with  its  construction  was  new,  crude  and 
doubtful,  with  little  to  g-viide  the  Avay,  and  that  derived  from  distant  and  un- 
certain sources  ;  now  such  has  been  the  increase  of  information  and  experience 
acquired  under  his  auspices  and  direction,  as  to  insure  the  completion  and 
success  of  the  undertaking,  if  prosecuted  with  the  same  zeal,  assiduity  and  in- 
tegrity which  have  ever  marked  its  course. 

"  liesoh-ed further,  That  this  Board,  in  taking  leave  of  Mr.  Thomas  as  their 
President,  caimot  omit  the  opportunity  of  tendering  to  him  their  respectful 
acknowledgments  of  the  uniform,  correct,  urbane  and  friendly  conduct,  which 
has  characterized  his  deportment  during  the  time  of  their  official  intercourse, 
and  of  expressing  to  him  their  best  wishes  for  the  speedy  restoration  of  his 
health,  and  for  his  future  prd^perity. 

"  Jiesolvcd,  That  the  President  pro  tera.  convey  to  Mr.  Thomas  a  copy  of 
these  proceedings,  under  his  signature." 


THE 

Rx\ILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF  1857. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

IIISTOUY  OF  THE  BALTIMOIIE  AND  OHIO  V^AlhTMAD—Coniiniied. 

The  resignation  of  Pliilip  E.  Tlionia?:,  as  President  of  tlie  Company, 
on  the  30ch  June,  1830,  having  been  contemplated  by  him  for  more 
than  a  year,  the  Board  liad  looked  long  and  anxionsly  for  a  com- 
petent successor — one  who  could  retain  the  contidetjce  of  the  city  and 
State,  as  well  as  the  good  feeling  with  which  European  capitalists  already 
viewed  this  great  enter[)rise.  At  •the  time  of  the  resignation  of  Mr. 
Thomas,  the  Board  were  in  correspondence  with  the  Hon.  Louis 
McLane,  to  whom  they  had  tendered  the  position,  Avith  every  prospect 
of  his  ultimately  accepting  it.  Joseph  W.  Patterson,  Esq.,  (whose 
father  had  been  one  of  the  most  efficient  of  the  first  Board  of  Direc- 
tors,) was  chosen  President  pro  tem.  until  Mr.  McLane  entered  on  his 
administration. 

Tlie  viaduct  across  the  Potomac  at  Harper's  Ferry  having  hoen 
completed  in  the  fall  of  1830,  and  the  connection  thus  made  with  the 
Winchester  Railroad,  it  was,  in  elfect,  a  jirolongation  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad  up  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  wiiich  soon  com- 
menced to  add  to  the  trade  of  the  city  of  Baltimore. 

In  the  spring  of  1836,  the  Board  deeming  that  the  time  had  arrived 
for  the  adoption  of  vigorous  measures  towards  the  prosecution  of  the 
road  from  Harper's  Ferry  westward,  to  the  points  of  its  original  destina- 
tion, an  engineer  force  was  organized  for  the  purpose  of  making  detailed, 
surveys  and  examinations  between  Harper's  Ferry  and  the  summit  of  the 
Alleghanies,  with  the  view  of  continuing  them  afterwards  to  Pittsburg 
ami  ^Y heeling.  Benjamin  H.  Latrobe,  Esq.,  was  appointed  to  the  post 
of  engineer  of  location  and  construction  on  tlie  1st  day  of  July,  1830, 
and  took  innnediafe  charge  of  the  surveys,  and  the  direction  of  the 
several  corps  upon  lield-duty.  The  rough  and  mountainous  country 
over  which  the  surveys  had  to  be  carried,  and  the  importance  of  leav- 
2* 


34  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

ing  no  practicable  route,  of  the  many  that  presented  themselves,  unex- 
amined, rendered  the  labors  of  tlie  engineers  necessarily  very  tedious 
and  prolonged. 

At  the  December  session  of  the  Legislature  of  Maryland,  1835-6, 
the  Board  of  Directors  memorialized  that  body,  praying  for  aid  to 
complete  the  road  to  Wheeling  and  Pittsburg,  and  at  the  same  time  a 
similar  application  was  made  to  the  mayor  and  city  council  of  Balti- 
more. The  latter,  at  once,  and  Avith  great  liberality,  respondmg  to  the 
universal  sentiment  pervading  the  community,  resolved  to  subscribe 
three  millions  of  dollars  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  company,  whenever 
the  legal  ditSculties  which  prevented  at  that  time  the  construction  of 
the  road  in  an  unbroken  line  west  from  Harper's  Ferry,  should  be 
removed.  The  Legislature,  iu  tlie  mouth  of  May  following,  also  appro- 
priated three  millions  to  the  road,  and,  as  before  stated,  removed  the 
restrictions  on  its  westward  progress,  and  the  Canal  Company  having 
entered  into  an  agreement  for  the  joint  construction  of  their  works,  all 
again  moved  on  harmoniously.  Six  millions  were  thus  added  to  the 
effective  means  of  the  company. 

After  the  death  of  Phineas  Davis,  which  occurred  by  accident  on 
the  27th  of  September,  1835,  Messrs.  Gillingham  and  Eoss  Wiiians  took 
the  company's  shops  at  Mount  Clare  Depot,  and  continued  the  manu- 
facture of  locomotives  and  railroad  machinery  commenced  by  Mr. 
Davis.  In  this  enterprise  they  were  independent  of  the  company,  but 
were  bound  by  contract  to  sujiply  the  road  with  locomotives  and  rail- 
road machinery  at  a  stipulated  price,  and  at  all  times  to  give  prece- 
dence to  the  company's  demands  for  work.  They  had  the  use  of  the 
grouttd  and  buildings,  with  the  fixed  machinery  left  by  Mr.  Davis, 
witliout  rent,  obligating  themselves  to  keep  the  same  in  repair,  and 
return  them  as  they  received  them.  In  consideration  of  tliis,  they 
manufactured  the  company's  engines  so  much  below  the  mai-ket  price 
for  them  elsewhere,  that  the  interest  on  the  cost  of  the  buildings  and 
fixed  machinery  was  deemed  to  be  fully  paid. 

The  last  two  locomotives  manufactured  by  Messrs.  Gillingham  & 
Winans,  in  the  fall  of  1836,  showed  a  power  of  traction,  when  tlie 
Aveight  of  the  engine  was  but  eight  tons,  much  exceeding  the  greatest 
power  that  had,  up  to  that  time,  been  obtained  on  the  Liverpool  and 
Manchester  Railroad  by  a  twelve  ton  engine.  This,  in  view  of  the 
heavy  mountain  grades  to  be  overcome,  was  deemed  a  matter  of  spe- 
cial gratulation  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

On  the  12th  of  September,  1830,  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of 
North  Point,  a  number  of  volunteer  comi)anics  of  Baltimore  and  the 


HON.  LOUIS    MCLAXE  PRESIDENT RE-LOCATION,  35 

atljaceut  counties,  amounting  to  more  than  one  thousand  citizen  sol- 
diers, were  conveyed  to  Washington  and  back  by  four  locomotive 
engines,  one  of  ■which  conveyed  three  hundred  troops,  Avitli  their  arms 
and  accoutrements.  Although  the  full  power  of  the  engines  was  by 
no  means  brought  into  play  on  this  meniorable  occasion,  yet  the  result 
had  a  very  impressive  utfect  on  the  many  thousands  who  had  witnessed 
it,  and  who  were  thus  furnished  with  ocular  demonstration  of  the  new 
and  immense  facilities  created  by  railroads  and  locomotive  engines 
upon  them,  in  the  transit  of  persons  and  property,  and  in  fact  of  whole 
armies  and  their  accompaniments. 

The  Hon.  Louis  McLane  entered  on  his  duties  as  President  of  the 
company  in  April  of  the  year  1837.  The  first  annual  report  bearing 
his  signature,  dated  on  the  1st  of  October,  1837,  expresses  the  deter- 
mination of  the  Board  to  steadily  proceed  in  the  reconstruction  rather 
than  the  repair  of  the  old  track,  Avhich  would  expose  the  road  and  the 
machinery  on  it  to  great  dilapidation. 

In  January,  1838,  the  inclined  planes  over  Parr's  Eidge  at  Mount 
Air}',  forty-one  miles  from  Baltimore,  which  had  up  to  that  time  been 
overcome  by  stationary  horse-power,  Avere  superseded  by  a  new  road 
around  the  planes;  and  more  than  thirteen  miles  of  other  parts  of  the 
road,  including  important  alterations  in  some  of  the  most  abrupt  and 
diliicult  curves,  were  completed  during  tlie  mouth  of  March,  1838. 
The  alteration  of  the  planes  decreased  the  annual  expenses  of  the  road 
upwards  of  $20,000.  The  late  John  H.  Done,  superintendent  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Road,  was  in  the  engineer's  corps  at  this  period. 

At  the  close  of  the  tliird  year  the  dividends  on  the  Washington 
Branch,  in  money  and  stock,  valuing  the  stock  at  par,  amounted  to 
fourteen  per  cent.,  or  four  and  two-thirds  per  cent,  per  annum — 
wJiilst  it  also  paid  to  the  State,  in  the  shape  of  bonus,  one-fifth  of  all 
the  munej"  received  from  the  conveyance  of  passengers,  Avhich,  to  the 
30th  of  September,  1838,  amounted  in  the  aggregate  to  $112,963  70. 

The  reconnaissance  and  preliminary  surveys  from  Harper's  Ferry 
to  the  Ohio  River,  conducted  by  B.  H.  Latrobe,  together  with  the 
estimate  of  the  cost  of  the  entire  work,  were  fully  ])repared  in  the 
course  of  the  year  1838.  They  reported  the  practicability  of  locating 
a  satisfactory  route  to  the  Ohio  River,  embracing  botii  Wheeling  and 
Pittsburg,  at  the  maximum  elevation  of  sixty-six  feet  to  the  mile  ;  and 
that  the  cost  of  construction,  with  a  single  track  of  the  most  durable 
plan  from  Cumberland  to  both  points,  would  not  exceed  nine  millions 
and  a  half  of  dollars.  The  time  allowed  for  the  occupation  of  any  part 
of  the  territory  of  Virginia  expired  in  the  month  of  July  in  that  year, 


36  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPKNIKG. 

and  it  became  necessary,  before  atteraptingto  proceed  fnrtber  Avith  the 
work,  to  make  an  application  for  the  renewal  of  the  charter  in  that 
State.  Measures  were  immediately  taken  for  that  purpose,  and 
President  McLane,  with  a  committee  of  the  directors  and  the  chief 
engineer,  attended  at  Riclnnond,  during  the  session  of  1838,  to  urge 
the  application. 

In  the  mean  time,  however,  new  interests,  less  favorable  to  the 
extension  of  the  work  through  that  State,  had  arisen,  and  that  wliich, 
at  an  earlier  day,  might  have  been  comparatively  easy  of  accomjilish- 
ment,  had  then  become  a  task  of  great  ditficulty.  A  law  was  finally 
passed,  however,  extending  the  time  for  completing  the  work  to  five 
years  :  but  it  deprived  the  company  of  the  option  of  selecting  between 
the  routes  from  Harper's  Ferry  to  Cumberland,  in  the  State  of  Mary- 
land, and  those  in  the  State  of  Virginia  ;  and  made  it  an  express  con- 
dition that  the  road  should  pass  into  Virginia  at  Hai-per's  Ferry,  be 
thence  constructed  through  the  State  to  about  five  and  a  half  miles 
below  Cumberland,  and  that  Wheeling  sJiould  ie  made  one  of  the  ter- 
mini. The  law  also  authorized  an  additional  subscription  of  $1,058,420 
upon  the  part  of  Virginia,  being  two-fifths  of  the  estimated  cost  of  so 
much  of  tiie  road  as  was  re(iuired  to  be  made  in  that  State  between 
Har[)er's  Ferry  and  Cumberland. 

According  to  this  condition,  which  was  the  best  it  was  possilile  to 
obtain,  the  company  was  not  only  required  to  pass  into  Virginia  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  but  was  also  obliged  to  abandon  altogether  the  exten- 
sion of  the  road  to  Wheeling,  or  to  leave  the  limits  of  the  State  of 
Maryland  for  nearly  the  entire  distance  between  Harper's  Ferry  and 
Cumberland.  The  validity  of  the  act  depended  upon  its  acceptance  by 
the  stockholders,  including  the  State  of  Maryland;  and  independently 
of  the  other  consequences  involved  in  the  condition,  it  first  became 
necessary  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  crossing  at  Hari)er's  Ferry. 
The  crossing  at  that  point  could  only  be  effected  by  occupying  a  part 
of  the  government  property,  or  about  six  mile"  of  the  Winchester  and 
Potomac  Railroad,  and  neither  could  be  used  Avithout  the  voluntary 
assent  of  the  res[)ective  proprietors. 

The  Winchester  and  Potomac  Kailroad  Company  positively  refus- 
ing their  assent  to  the  joint  use  of  six  miles  of  their  road,  an  arrange- 
ment was  finally  concluded  with  the  Secretary  of  War,  by  President 
McLane,  by  which  permission  to  occupy  the  necessary  parts  of  the 
public  property  was  granted.  The  law  of  Virginia  was  then  duly  ac- 
cepted by  the  stockholders,  and  it  became  the  duty  of  the  Board  to 
promptly  carry  out  their  decision. 


EFFORTS    TO    EXTEND    THE    ROAD    BEVOXD    IIAKPEr's    :fERRY.       37 

Companies  of  engineers,  adequate  to  the  location  of  tlio  entire  line 
from  Harper's  Ferry  to  Cumberland,  were  promptly  organized  under 
B.  IT.  Latrobe,  with  instructions  to  prepare  the  road  for  contract  early 
in  the  ensuing  spring.  Similar  corps  were  also  employed  in  locating 
the  road  from  Wheeling  towards  the  Pennsylvania  line,  with  instruc- 
tions to  the  same  ettect;  so  that  the  work  might  be  prosecuted  with  as 
much  dispatch  as  the  means  at  their  command  would  admit. 

On  account  of  tlie  dittieulties  in  the  money  market  during  llie  years 
1839  and  1840,  the  Board  deemed  it  an  act  of  proper  precaution  to 
suspend  their  operations  west  of  Cumberland,  and  accordingly  called  in 
the  corps  of  engineers  who  had  been  engaged  in  that  |)art  of  the  ser- 
vice. The  right  of  way  having  been  procured  through  Virginia  frojn 
Harper's  Ferry,  that  [lortion  of  tlie  road  was  placed  under  contract 
during  the  summer,  and  progressed  with  good  speed  under  judicious 
and  energetic  management. 

The  subscrii)tion  of  $3,000,000,  on  the  part  of  the  State  of  Mary- 
land, was  originally  jjayable  to  the  company  in  money,  by  the  State 
treasurer,  to  be  raised  from  the  sale  of  currency  bonds,  bearing  an  in- 
terest of  six  per  cent.  These  bonds,  however,  were  directed  to  be 
offered  for  sale  first  in  Europe  before  they  could  be  sold  elsewhere ; 
and  in  order  to  provide  for  the  interest  for  a  period  of  three  years, 
could  only  be  sold  at  a  premium  of  20  per  cent.  These  terms  proving 
impracticable,  and  the  State's  commissioner  in  England  representing 
tiiat  sterling  bonds  would  be  more  salable  in  the  European  markets, 
tlie  Legislature  substituted  sterling  bonds,  bearing  an  interest  of  tive 
per  cent.,  payable,  principal  and  interest,  in  London.  It  being  obvious, 
from  inquiries  made  both  at  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  that  they 
could  not  be  advantageously  disposed  of  in  the  United  States,  Mr. 
McLane,  at  the  request  of  the  Board,  was  induced  to  proceed  to 
Europe,  there  to  make  such  arrangements  as  he  should  deem  best  for 
their  final  disposition. 

By  the  time  these  bonds  could  be  prepared  and  forwarded  to  Lon- 
don, a  very  unfavorable  change  had  taken  place  in  the  European 
markets.  American  securities  had  accumulated  there  in  an  unprece- 
dented quantity,  and  a  general  depression  had  taken  place  in  their 
value,  which  rendered  the  sale  of  any  portion  of  those  belonging  to  the 
railroad  company — unless  at  prices  prejudicial  to  the  State,  and  ruin- 
ous to  the  interests  of  the  comjiany — absolutely  impossible. 

Consulting  not  more  the  interests  of  the  company  than  the  credit 
of  the  State,  so  necessary  to  the  prosecution  of  all  her  public  enter- 
jirises,  President  McLane  declined  disposing  of  any  portion   of  the 


38  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

bonds  comraitted  to  hiin  at  the  prices  established  by  other  sales,  bnt 
succeeded  in  eftectiug  an  arrangement  with  Messrs.  Baring  Brothers  & 
Co.,  of  London,  to  make  a  sale  of  the  stocks  of  the  company  -when  they 
should  be  salable,  and  to  advance  such  amount  on  them  as  the  future 
necessities  of  the  company  were  likely  to  require. 

It  was  during  this  season  of  monetary  embarrassment  that  the 
lioard  determined  to  oifer  the  contractors  and  proprietors  of  lands,  in 
payment  for  their  work,  and  the  right  of  way,  certificates,  authorizing 
the  transfer  at  par  of  the  six  per  cent,  stock  of  the  city  of  Baltimore, 
whenever  presented  in  sums  of  $100  or  upwards. 

This  proposition  vs'as  promptly  responded  to  by  the  community  at 
large,  as  well  as  the  contractors  and  other  creditors  of  the  con^pany, 
who,  during  the  year  ending  on  the  30th  of  September,  1810,  received 
in  payment  of  the  liabilities  of  the  companj',  stock  to  the  amount  of 
$515,000.  The  city  was  enabled,  by  this  master-stroke  of  policy,  to 
comply  with  her  engagements  to  the  company,  without  any  loss  or 
sacrifice ;  the  credit  of  her  public  securities  was  preserved  unimpaired, 
and  this  important  work,  so  essential  to  her  trade  and  prosperity, 
was  enabled  to  push  on  with  energy  towards  its  completion  to  Cum- 
berland. 

;  The  receipts  of  the  Main  Stem  to  Harper's  Feny,  and  the  Wash- 
ington Branch,  during  the  year  ending  October  1,  18il,  amounted  to 
$135,458  8C,  being  nearly  three  and  one-half  per  cent,  upon  tlie 
original  capital  of  $4,000,000,  which  those  sections  of  the  road  had 
cost. 

During  the  monetary  difliiculties  of  1839-40,  whilst,  through  the 
energy  of  President  McLane  and  his  able  Board  of  Directors,  this  groat 
work  was  pushed  forward  by  tlie  apiiropriatiou  of  city  stock,  at  par, 
most  of  the  other  principal  works  of  internal  improvement  through- 
out the  country  were  partially  or  altogether  suspended.  The  com- 
pany was  thus  enabled  to  promptly  meet  all  its  engagements,  while 
its  credit  and  resources  remained  unimpaired,  and  ample  to  discharge 
its  obligations. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  1842,  the  road  was  opened  for  travel  and 
transportation  from  liarjjer's  Ferry  to  a  point  opposite  the  town  of 
Hancock,  a  distance  of  forty-one  and  a  half  miles,  and  soon  began  to 
show  a  large  increase  in  business  and  receipts. 

The  work  on  the  balance  of  the  road  to  Cumberland  was,  in  the 
mean  time,  pushed  on  with  energy,  and  on  the  5th  of  November,  1842, 
a  proud  day  for  the  city  and  State,  this  great  central  puiut  of  their 
labors  was  reached. 


COMl'LETION    TO    CUMBERLAND,    1842.  39 

[For  an  account  of  tlie  difficulties  overcome  in  tliis  portion  of  tlio 
work,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  description  of  the  line,  to  be  found 
in  the  pages  succeeding  this  historical  sketch.] 

The  road  being  now  finished  to  Cumberland,  the  Board  considered 
that  they  had  surmounted  the  most  formidable  impediments  to  its  fur- 
ther progress,  and  that  tlie  various  interests  Avhich  had  been  previously 
hostile  or  lukewarm,  would  thereafter  become  auxiliary  to  its  advance- 
ment. It  was  believed  that  beyond  Cumberland  it  would  become  the 
primary  work  of  Maryland,  and  of  "Western  Virginia  and  Pennsylva- 
nia :  but  these  expectations  Avere  again  subject  to  disappointment, 
with  delay  and  procrastination,  and  almost  a  total  suspension  of  opera- 
tions for  several  years.  The  Board  looked  forward  to  the  early  con- 
sunnnation  of  tlieir  hopes,  and  in  the  annual  report  for  tiie  year  1843» 
after  urging  most  eloquently  and  ably  the  duty  of  the  city  and  State 
in  the  matter,  thus  predicted  results  that  may  now  be  confidently  an- 
ticipated : 

"  When  Baltimore  can  communicate  with  St.  Louis  and  New  Orleans  with 
equal  certainty,  at  a  shorter  distance,  and  at  a  less  cost  than  attend  the  inter- 
course from  the  same  points  with  Philadelphia,  New  York,  and  Boston,  she 
may  then,  and  not  before,  hope  successfully  to  contend  with  those  cities  for  the 
Westein  trade.  Then,  and  not  before,  the  capital  and  enterprise  now  inactive, 
or  which  may  have  sought  more  favored  points,  may  be  expected  to  return  ; 
then  her  wharves  may  be  lined  with  foreign  ships  and  steamers,  and  she  may 
become  the  mart  of  an  extensive  domestic  and  foreign  trade." 

The  charter  of  the  company,  both  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  by 
its  original  terms  was  perpetual  ;  but,  without  additional  legislation, 
the  Board  had  no  authority  after  the  4th  of  July,  1843,  to  occupy  any 
greater  extent  of  the  territory  of  either  State  for  tlio  extension  of  the 
road.  The  legislature  of  Maryland  promptly  allowed  a  further  period 
of  twenty  years,  but  that  of  Virginia  adjourned  witliont  taking  any 
action  towards  removing  the  obstacle.  In  the  mean  time  the  Board 
were  constrained  to  limit  their  measures  for  the  construction  of  the 
road,  to  further  reconnaissances  of  the  country  west  of  Cumberland 
through  the  State  of  Virginia,  in  the  well-founded  belief  that  in  that 
direction,  should  it  become  advisable  to  seek  it,  a  better  and  cheaper 
route  to  the  Ohio  River  might  be  obtained;  looking  forward  with  con- 
fidence to  more  auspicious  legislation  in  both  States  the  ensuing 
winter. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1844,  the  Board  were  officially  informed 
by  the  President  of  the  Maryland  and  New  York  Iron  and  Coal  Com- 
pany, that  having  procured  the  requisite  funds  to  construct  a  railway 
from  the  mines  to  Cumberland,  they  were  anxious  to  proceed  with  tho 


40  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING, 

work,  if  tlie  charges  for  the  transportation  of  iron  and  coal  from  the 
mines  to  Baltimore  could  be  fixed  at  such  rates  as  would  warrant  them 
in  adopting  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  for  the  transportation  of 
their  products.  The  same  officer  subsequently  proposed  a  contract  for 
that  purpose,  to  continue  for  five  years  after  the  completion  of  their 
road,  to  furnish  a  freight  of  coal,  pig  iron,  bar  iron,  fire-bricks,  &c.,  iu 
quantities  of  175  tons  per  day,  for  tliree  liundred  days  in  the  year. 
The  proposition  was  finally  accepted  by  the  Board,  and  the  rate  of  one 
cent  and  one-third  of  a  cent  per  ton  per  mile  fixed  as  the  freight.  This 
was  the  commencement  of  the  semi-bituminous  coal  trade,  whicli  has 
now  swelled  to  a  demand  for  means  of  transportation  to  the  extent  of 
3,000  tons  per  day. 

During  the  winter  of  1843,  another  application  was  made  to  the 
legislature  of  Virginia  to  grant  further  time  for  the  extension  of  the 
road  through  that  State,  within  the  limits  of  the  original  charter, 
which  allowed  the  company  to  strike  the  Ohio  at  a  point  not  lower 
than  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Kanawha.  The  application,  however, 
encountered  an  opposition  altogether  unexpected  from  the  authorities. 
A  bill  was  finally  reported,  granting  the  right  of  way  between  the  de- 
sired limits,  but  encumbered  with  so  many  embarrassing  conditions, 
that  the  friends  of  the  road  in  the  legislature  refused  to  accept  it. 

President  McLane  again  visited  Europe  in  connection  Avith  the 
financial  operations  of  the  company  during  the  year  1844,  when  Sam- 
uel Jones,  Jr.,  Esq.,  was  chosen  President  pro  tern.  It  was  during  this 
period  tliat  Ross  Winans'  heavy  engines,  then  of  twenty-two  tons' 
Aveight,  built  for  the  coal  trade,  Avere  first  put  on  the  road,  and  prcved 
themselves  of  great  value  by  using  Cumberland  coal  as  fuel  instead  of 
wood.  The  late-t  of  these  machines  Aveigh  some  thirty-two  tons, 
without  the  tender. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1845,  the  difficulty  with  the  legislature  of 
Virginia  Avith  regard  to  the  right  of  Avay  through  that  State  still  con- 
tinued, and  prevented  the  commencement  of  the  road  Avest  of  Cum- 
berland, the  law  passed  at  the  previous  session,  on  account  of  its  onerous 
conditions,  having  been  rejected  by  the  stockholders.  An  efl:brt  Avas 
then  made  by  the  citizens  of  Western  Pennsylvania  to  procure  from 
the  legiylatnre  of  that  State  a  law  authorizing  the  company  to  extend 
its  Avorks  to  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  This  movement  ultimately  result- 
ed in  the  granting  of  the  Oonnellsville  Road  charter,  but  not  until  the 
year  1846,  when  the  legislature  of  Virginia  someAvhat  modified  the 
objective  policy  they  had  pursued,  and  finally  passed  a  bill,  compelling 


MORE    DELAYS RIGHT    OF    WAY.  41 

the  road  to  make  its  terminus  at  Wheeling,  thougli  relieving  it  of  many 
of  the  onerous  requirements  of  the  previous  act. 

President  McLane  returned  from  Europe  in  October,  184(5,  and 
again  resumed  his  post.  In  tlie  mean  time  the  annual  reports  show  a 
steady  increase  in  the  transportation,  hotli  of  passengers  and  freight, 
and  $000,000  having  been  subscribed  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Kail- 
road  Company  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Pittsburg  and  ConuoUsville 
Ivoad,  that  company  Avas  preparing  to  prosecute  its  work  to  the  Mary- 
land State  line  with  a  great  deal  of  energy.  The  cliarter  of  the  Con- 
nellsville  Road  to  open  a  way  to  the  Maryland  line  met  Avith  great  op- 
position from  Philadelphia,  and  was  passed  Avithout  tlie  delegates  from 
that  city  fully  understanding  that  its  object  Avasthus  to  aftbrd  a  connec- 
tion betAveen  Pittsburg  and  Baltimore, — an  opposition  that  had  already 
lirevented  a  satisfactory  extension  of  the  charter  of  the  Baltimore  road 
to  connect  Avitli  Pittsburg,  by  embarrassing  its  provisions,  and  making 
it  dependent  for  its  vitality  upon  the  failure  on  the  part  of  the  citizens 
of  Philadelphia  to  subscribe  the  sum  of  $3,000,000  to  a  company  in- 
corporated at  the  same  session  to  construct  a  road  from  that  city  to 
Pittsburg. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Stockholders  held  on  the  5th  of  April,  1847, 
relative  to  a  conference  had  Avith  the  Pittsburg  and  Connellsville  Com- 
pany, President  McLane  read  a  communication  over  his  own  signature, 
stating  that  the  Connellsville  Company  had  so  far  changed  its  vieAvsj 
that  it  not  only  refused  to  accept  any  further  subscription  from  the 
Baltimore  Company,  but  declined  to  treat  Avith  them  unless  they  Avould, 
before  a  designated  day,  consent  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  com- 
pleting the  entire  connection  with  Pittsburg  by  their  own  undivided 
energies,  upon  such  terms  and  by  such  route  as  prescribed;  and  that, 
too,  Avithout  any  expectation  of  receiving  assistance  from  Pittsburg. 
The  route  thus  prescribed,  called  the  "  Northern  Eoute,"  the  President 
proceeded  to  shoAV,  although  the  cheapest  I'oute  to  reach  Pittsburg, 
Avould  be  the  dearest  route  to  Baltimore,  in  view  of  the  continuation 
of  its  road  to  a  more  southern  point  on  the  Ohio  River ;  and  that  it 
might  be  in  fact  the  design  of  this  condition  to  obstruct,  if  not  defeat 
the  purpose  of  Baltimore  ever  going  further  south  on  the  Ohio, — in 
short,  that  their  conditions  meant  nothing  more  nor  less  than  that,  un- 
less Baltimore,  ineftect,  relinquished  and  abandoned  forever  its  purpose 
of  ultimately  going  to  a  more  southern  point  on  the  Ohio,  it  should 
not  form  a  connection  Avith  Pittsburg  at  all.  This  Avas  the  alternative 
submitted  to  the  company,  and  as  a  n)atter  of  course  it  Avas  promptly 
and  decidedly  rejected,  although  attliaftime  a  connection  Avith  Pitts- 


42  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MlSSISSirPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

burg  was  regarded  by  many  as  a  matter  of  paramount  and  immediate 
importance. 

In  tiie  early  part  of  the  ensuing  year,  1S47,  the  legish^ture  of  Vir- 
ginia renewed  the  grant  of  the  right  of  way  tlirough  that  State  for  a 
period  of  twelve  years,  upon  condition  that  the  road  shall  be  extended 
to  the  city  of  Wheeling  witliout  toucliing  the  Ohio  Eirer  at  a ^wint 
lotcer  down  than  the  mouth  of  Fish  Crecl\  and  according  to  the  agree- 
ment with  that  city,  the  option  of  extending  the  road  by  the  latter 
point  wrts  absolute.  By  accepting  this  Virginia  law,  and  confirming 
the  agreement  of  the  city  of  Wheeling,  the  Stockholders  at  that  time 
considered  that  they  had  not  only  consulted  the  interests  of  the  several 
companies  engaged  in  making  the  improvement  on  the  Southern  and 
Central  lines  of  Ohio,  but  insured  the  connection  of  both  with  their 
road. 

Ten  years  were  thus  spent  by  the  company,  throngh  the  impractica- 
ble legislation  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  in  seeking  the  right  to 
extend  the  road  to  the  Ohio  Eiver.  On  the  1st  of  July,  1847,  Benja- 
min n.  Latrobe,  the  chief  engineer  of  the  road,  acting  also  as  General 
Sui)erintendent,  under  instructions  from  the  Board,  proceeded  with 
three  competent  corps  of  engineers  to  locate  the  line  of  tlie  road  as  far 
westward  as  the  Maryland  and  AHrginia  State  line,  on  the  southern 
route  towards  the  Ohio, — tlie  first  coi'ps  were  engaged  between  Cum- 
berland and  Westernport  opposite  Piedmont,  twenty-seven  miles  up 
the  valley  of  the  North  Branch — the  second  in  the  location  between 
Westernport  and  Backbone  or  Main  Summit — and  the  third  upon  the 
easy  and  picturesque  part  of  the  route  lying  westward  from  tlie  Sum- 
mit, through  tlie  Glades,  for  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles  to  the  State 
line.  The  last  party,  having  finished  their  labors,  crossed  into  Virginia 
and  proceeded  to  the  head  of  Snowy  Creek,  whence  the  descent  to  the 
Valley  of  the  Cheat  River  commences.  At  the  close  of  the  season, 
sixty-five  miles  of  the  route  from  Cumberland  West  was  fully  prepared 
for  contract. 

The  last  report  of  Mr.  McLane  for  the  year  1848,  details  at  length 
the  pecuniary  difficulties  of  the  company,  the  necessity  for  a  still  fur- 
ther increase  of  the  motive  power  of  the  road  to  the  amount  of 
$'240,848,  rendering  it  impossible  that  a  dividend  in  money  could  be 
paid  during  that  year  on  the  capital  stock.  The  Board  had  also 
deemed  it  necessary  to  proceed  with  the  reconstruction  of  the  old,  im- 
perfect, and  worn-out  road:  to  change  the  original  and  defective  loca- 
tion of  the  track  east  of  the  Monocacy,  and  to  extend  a  branch  road 
to  Locust  Point,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Basin  in  Baltimore,  on  which 


MORE    LEGISLATION FEASIDLE    ROUTE    PLANNED.  43 

tlie  transportation,  not  intended  for  distribution  in  the  city,  miglit  bo 
done  by  steam  to  the  waters'  edge,  and  much  of  the  horse  j)o\ver  in 
the  streets  be  saved,  and  other  serious  inconveniences  avoided.  This 
work  was  duly  carried  out,  and  was  tlie  germ  of  the  extensive  ship- 
ping wharves  and  warehouses  chistered  there,  and  whicli  afford  such 
admirable  facilities  for  the  prompt  and  cheap  transhipment  of  freight 
between  the  cars  and  tiie  boats. 

The  eliief  engineer,  in  the  mean  time,  had  continued  constantly  in 
the  field  locating  the  road  west  of  Cumberland.  Tlie  ditBculties  of  the 
entire  country,  as  far  as  the  Cheat  and  Tygart  Valley  Rivers,  induced 
the  Board  to  call  in  two  consulting  engineers  to  confer  with  Mr.  La- 
trobe  upon  the  location  of  this  important  section  of  the  road.  For 
this  purpose  the  services  of  Jonathan  Knight,  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
John  Child,  of  Massachusetts,  were  secured,  and  in  the  month  of  June, 
18-±8,  the  Board  of  Engineers,  thus  constituted,  examined  the  country 
described,  with  care,  and  decided  upon  all  the  lines  it  would  be  expe- 
dient to  trace,  in  order  to  leave  no  room  for  question  that  the  entire 
ground  had  been  investigated  with  the  utmost  caution.  The  engineers 
were-fully  satisfied  that  the  construction  of  the  road  across  this  rugged 
country  was  fully  practicable,  with  grades  perfectly  within  the  useful 
available  power  of  the  locomotive  engine. 


THE 

RAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF  1857. 


CHAPTER    V. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  BALTIMOKl':  AND  OHIO  V^ MUiO AT)— Conihi tied. 

In  October,  1848,  sliortly  after  the  presentation  of  the  t\\-enty- 
second  annual  report  of  the  President  and  Board  of  Directors,  Mr.  Mc- 
Lane  resigned  his  [losition,  as  President  of  the  road,  over  which  he 
liad  presided  for  eleven  years,  and  Thomas  Swann,  Esq.,  for  several 
montlis  previous  one  of  the  most  active,  energetic,  and  able  of  the 
Board  of  Directors,  was  immediately  chosen  his  successor,  Avith  a  una- 
nimity that  clearly  evinced  the  high  estimation  in  which  he  was  held 
by  his  associates  in  the  Board.  The  announcement  of  his  appoint- 
ment also  gave  general  satisfaction  to  the  city  and  State  authorities, 
as  well  as  to  those  of  his  fellow-citizens  Avho  were  familiar  with 
his  character  and  the  previous  services  which  he  had  rendered  the 
company'. 

The  affairs  of  the  company  had  reached  another  crisis.  The  priv- 
ilege of  forming  a  connection  with  the  Ohio  Kiver  had  been  placed 
at  their  disposal  by  the  act  of  1847,  and  the  agreement  with  the  city 
of  Wheeling:  and  the  time  had  arrived  for  exercising  an  energy  which 
faces  embarrassments  and  trials,  with  a  determination  to  conquer, 
despite  the  clouds  of  adversity  that  threaten  momentarily  to  over- 
wlielm.  The  Board  fully  appreciated  the  responsibility  resting  upon 
them,  and  time  has  shown  that,  in  the  selection  of  a  successor  to  Mr. 
McLane,  they  acted  judiciously. 

Among  the  records  of  the  company,  the  first  mention  of  the  servi- 
ces of  Mr.  Swann  is  during  the  year  1847,  Avhen,  at  the  instance  of 
Mr.  McT-ane,  he  proceeded  to  Richmond  to  procure  such  terms  as 
would  be  the  most  acceptable  in  the  matter  of  the  right  of  way  to  Wheel- 


PRESIDENT    MCLAXE    RETIRES ACCESSION    OP    THOMAS    SWANN.       45 

ing,  then  pending  in  the  legislature  of  Virginia.  lie  tliere  labored 
Avith  that  indomitable  perseverance  -which  lias  since  distingnished  iiini 
as  President  of  the  company,  greatly  contributing,  by  his  ability  and 
his  sound  discretion,  towards  a  restoration  of  good  feeling  between  the 
parties  to  the  ten  years'  controversy. 

Early  in  the  year  18i8,  a  vacancy  occurring  in  the  Board,  Mr. 
Swann  was  unanimously  elected  a  Director.  He  came  in  as  a  friend 
of  the  administration  of  Mr.  McLane,  and  continued  to  yield  to  him  a 
cordial  support  up  to  the  period  of  his  resignation.  From  the  time  of 
his  appointment  Mr,  Swann  became  identified  with  every  important 
measure  of  the  Board,  and  seems  to  have  been  called  upon  bj-  the 
President  in  every  delicate  emergency  that  required  more  than  ordinary 
energy  and  ability  to  encounter  and  overcome.  Tiie  series  of  commu- 
nications published  during  the  year  184-8,  in  the  Baltimore  Patriot, 
over  the  signature  of  '•  A  large  Stockiiolder,"  were  understood  to  be 
from  his  pen,  and  attracted  a  large  share  of  attention  at  that  time. 

Sliortly  after  the  passage  by  the  Virginia  legislature  of  the  law  of 
J  847,  Mr.  Swann  visited  the  city  of  Wheeling  in  company  with  Presi- 
dent McLane,  T.  Parkin  Scott,  Samuel  Iloft'man,  Joseph  W.  Patterson, 
and  -James  Swann,  to  make  arrangements  with  the  authorities  of  that 
city  prior  to  a  recommencement  of  the  road  west  of  Cumberland. 
The  agreement  effected  with  tlie  city,  as  a  consequence  of  tliis  visit  in 
July,  1847,  proved  entirely  satisfactory,  and  was  afterwards  fidly  en- 
dorsed by  the  stockholders. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1848,  some  months  prior  to  his  election  to 
the  presidency  of  the  company,  Mr.  Swann,  as  cjiairman  of  a  special 
committee  of  Directors,  charged  Avith  the  duty  of  co-operating  with 
President  McLane  in  devising  means  for  the  prosecution  of  the  road 
west,  published  an  able  address  to  the  citizens  of  Baltimore,  announc- 
ing that  the  comi)any,  after  so  many  years  of  fruitless  toil,  had  at 
length  triumphed  over  every  obstacle,  and  that  tiie  city  had  at  last  open 
to  her  embrace  an  unobstructed  line  of  communication  with  the  re- 
sources of  the  great  "West,  by  a  route  well  adapted  to  the  important 
ends  to  which  her  efforts  had  been  directed.  The  company  also,  in 
accepting  the  route  ottered  by  Virginia,  had  every  assurance  that  it 
was  within  the  reach  of  a  connection  with  tlie  railroad  in  course  of 
construction  through  central  Oiiio,  and  that  it  would  be  acceptable  to 
a  line  connecting  with  Cincinnati,  through  the  southern  division  of  the 
State,  by  Marietta,  Athens,  and  Chiljicothe.  The  address  of  Mr.  Swann 
removed  all  the  doubts  and  fears  of  those  who  regarded  the  undertak- 
ing as  too  stupendous   for  the    means  and   resources  of  the  company. 


46  GREAT    OHIO  'aXD    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENIXG. 

Pennsylvania  was  pushing  on  her  Central  Road  to  Pittsburg;  and  for 
Baltimore  then  to  stop  at  Cumberland,  he  urged,  would  bring  ruin, 
wide-spread  ruin,  upon  the  city,  froui  which  no  power  on  earth  would 
thereafter  be  adequate  to  redeem  her.  Her  doom  Avould  be  sealed — 
her  working  classes  would  be  struck  down  in  the  midst  of  advantages 
which  nature  had  thrown  in  her  way,  and  which  she  would  sufler 
others  to  come  in  and  appropriate  for  themselves. 

The  committee  of  which  Mr.  Swann  Avas  chairman,  consisted  of 
John  Hopkins,  Samuel  Hoffman,  Jacob  G.  Davies,  T.  Parkin  Scott, 
George  Brown,  and  William  Cooke;  and  their  appeal  to  the  citizens  of 
Balfimore  met  Avith  a  prompt  and  cordial  response  from  all  the  varied 
interests  of  the  city  and  State. 

A  letter  was  also  addressed  by  President  McLane  to  this  commit- 
tee, urging  that  the  crisis  had  arrived  when  it  became  the  imperative 
duty  of  the  Directors  and  Stockholders  of  the  company,  promptly  to 
adopt  all  the  measures  in  their  power  to  finish  their  enterprise  without 
delay,  "  and  witliout  counting  the  inconvenience  of  some  present  pri- 
vation, to  invoke  to  tlieir  aid  their  utmost  resources  to  accomplish 
their  object." 

On  assuming  the  position  of  President  of  the  company,  in  the  fall 
of  184:8,  Mr.  Swann  briefly  addressed  the  Board,  approi;riately  acknow- 
ledging the  honor  that  bad  been  done  him,  and  pledged  his  undivided 
attention  to  the  duties  that  would  devolve  upon  him ; — a  pledge  that 
he  has  most  religiously  kept.  From  that  period  down  to  the  opening 
of  the  road,  he  is  known  to  have  been  engaged  almost  without  the  in- 
termission of  a  day,  disregarding  all  private  affivirs,  and  every  other 
claim  upon  his  time,  in  his  efforts  to  secure  to  the  city  of  Baltimore 
the  consunnnaLion  of  its  long-deferred  hopes,  and  the  benefit  of  this 
great  highwa}^  to  the  Western  waters. 

At  the  period  of  Mr.  Swann's  election,  we  find,  on  consulting  tlie 
sales  at  the  Baltimore  stock  board,  that  the  shares  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad  had  fallen  to  twenty-eight  cents  in  the  dollar  ;  and 
its  bonds,  it  was  believed,  could  not  be  sold  to  any  large  amount.  Mr. 
Swann's  first  effort,  in  this  pecuniary  condition  of  the  company,  ap- 
pears to  have  been,  to  form  an  indissoluble  connection  with  some  strong 
and  leading  financial  house  abroad,  which  could  afford  substantial  aid 
in  the  trials  and  emergencies  that  he  plainly  foresaw  would  have  to  be 
encountered  in  the  line  of  duty  he  had  marked  out  for  himself,  and  in 
which  he  had  every  reason  to  believe  he  would  be  fully  sustained  by 
the  eidightened  Board  of  Directors  over  whom  he  had  been  called  to 
preside. 


ENERGETIC    ACTION CONFIDENCE    RESTORED.  47 

Tho  sterling  bonds  de[)Osited  by  Mr.  McLano  in  the  hands  of  Messrs. 
Baring  et  Brothers,  still  remained  there,  and  the  attention  of  Mr. 
Swann  was  attracted  to  that  house  as  likely  to  afford  the  means  of  aid- 
ing in  the  resuscitation  of  the  credit  of  his  State.  Mr.  Peabody  of 
London,  formerly  a  citizen  of  Baltimore — with  Avhom  he  also  immedi- 
ately opened  a  correspondence  on  the  subject, — referred  the  applica- 
tion to  the  Messrs.  Baring,  deeming  that  to  be  his  best  mode  of  meeting 
tho  views  of  the  company.  The  State  of  Maryland  had  been  among 
the  suspended  States,  and  its  credit  abroad  had  greatly  suffered  in 
consequence;  so  that,  without  the  aid  of  a  strong  and  friendly 
moneyed  connection,  it  Avould  have  been  impossible  to  make  available, 
for  the  completion  of  the  road,  any  portion  of  her  sterling  bonds. 
This  correspondence,  comprising  nearly  a  volume  of  letters,  discusses 
at  great  length,  and  with  marked  abilit}",  the  financial  position  of  the 
State  of  Maryland,  and  proved  so  .-satisfactory  and  convincing,  that  it 
closed  with  a  sale  of  £200,000  of  the  five  per  cent,  bonds  of  the  State 
to  the  Messrs.  Baring. 

The  growth  of  the  city  of  Baltimore  during  the  two  years  in  which 
tlie  company  had  been  maturing  their  plans  to  prosecute  their  work 
to  completion,  had  not  been  equalled  at  any  former  period  of  her 
history ;  and  it  was  universally  admitted  that  her  subscription  of 
$3,500,000,  had  been  more  than  returned  to  her  in  the  enhanced  value 
of  her  real  estate,  to  say  nothing  of  the  influx  of  population,  which 
increased  activity  in  trade  and  the  prospect  of  an  early  connection 
with  the  West  liad  brought  within  her  limits. 

Early  in  1849,  Mr.  Swann  in  an  address  to  the  Board  of  Directors, 
indicated  the  purpose  of  the  Company  to  press  on  with  the  work,  and 
to  compass  tiie  whole^  instead  of  a  j^iar^  of  the  route  between  Cumber- 
land and  Wheeling,  as  had  been  originally  proposed.  The  bold  and 
confident  spirit  of  this  address  attracted  notice  throughout  the  country, 
and  revived  the  drooping  spirits  of  the  friends  of  the  work.  For  years 
previous  the  subject  had  been  one  of  engrossing  interest,  and  the  public 
mind  had  become  feverish  under  the  delay  which  had  attended  the 
efforts  of  the  company  to  secure  a  charter  under  which  they  could  feel 
justified  in  proceeding  with  the  road.  After  describing  tliis  position 
of  the  affairs  of  the  company,  Mr.  Swann  urged  the  great  importance 
of  prompt  action  in  pressing  the  work  to  com[)letion,  and  depicted  in 
startling  colors  the  dangers  to  be  apprehended  from  procrastination 
when  rival  interests  were  actively  at  work. 

lie  also  alluded  to  the  immense  cost  of  the  undertaking,  estimated 
•it  moi-e  than  $0,000,000,  wliich  would  at  any  time  present  iiialter  for 


48  GREAT     OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

grave  deliberation  in  a  coininimity  already  so  heavily  burthened  by 
her  liberal  contributions  to  works  of  internal  improvements,  from 
wliicli  but  partial  returns  had  been  received.  But  these  disappoint- 
ments, he  urged,  should  not  be  permitted  to  involve  the  city  in  still 
more  formidable  sacritices.  The  large  amount  of  capital  already  em- 
barked in  the  finished  road  from  Baltimore  to  Cumberland,  would  but 
faintly  express  the  loss  which  would  be  entailed  upon  the  comnmnity 
by  a  failure  to  carry  out  the  original  plan  of  the  projectors  of  the  en- 
terprise.    Tliis  address  concludes  as  follows  : 

"  Tlie  completion  of  n  stupeiiclous  work,  hiiicling  together  two  grand  ex- 
tremes of  our  Union,  and  promising  so  largely  to  the  future  advancement  of 
the  city  of  Kaltimore,  in  every  department  of  her  industrial  pursuits,  and  in- 
directly to  the  whole  State  of  Maryland,  might  well  excite  the  ambition  of  all 
classes  and  interests, — having  an  eye  to  ovir  common  welfare  and  prosperity. 
Under  whatever  auspices  it  may  be  pressed  to  completion,  it  will  ever  stand 
as  an  enduring  monument  of  the  wisdom  and  foresight  of  its  early  pro- 
jectors, and  an  honor  to  the  State  of  Maryland,  as  well  as  to  those  enterprising 
citizens  by  whose  capital  and  public  spirit  it  may  be  brought  to  a  successful 
termination." 

Immediately  on  the  closing  of  the  delivery  of  this  address  to  the 
Board,  Mr.  George  Brown,  one  of  the  venerable  founders  of  the  road, 
is  said  to  have  arisen  under  great  excitement,  and  moved  the  following 
resolution  : 

"  Eesolved,  That  the  Chief  Engineer  he  directed  to  proceed  to  ar- 
range to  put  the  iDhole  line  to  the  Ohio  River  under  contract  as  speedil]) 
as  practical)! ey 

This  spirited  resolution  was  instantly  and  unanimously^  adopted, 
and  the  decided  and  confident  manner  in  which  Mr.  Brown  seconded 
t)ie  recommendations  of  the  President,  having  its  eftect  both  in  ths 
lioard  and  among  the  connnunity  at  large. 

The  policy  of  the  company  being  now  fairly  established,  no  effort 
was  spared  to  place  the  road  west  of  Cumberland  under  contract,  and 
to  press  it  forward  Avith  the  least  practicable  delay.  At  the  close  of 
the  year  1850,  \^o  less  than  1G5  miles  of  the  road  was  in  various  stages 
of  advancement,  and  in  the  spring  of  1851,  the  laying  of  the  rails  was 
commenced.  Whilst  in  this  state  of  progress  Mr.  Swann  continued  to 
invoke  the  encouraging  aid,  not  only  of  Baltimore,  but  of  every  inter- 
est identified  with  tlie  common  prosperity  of  the  State  at  large.  The 
Board  had  entered  ui)on  the  discharge  of  their  responsible  duties,  not 
without  a  full  ai)preciation  of  the  difficulties  incident  to  all  similar 
works ;  nor  could  they  expect  to  realize,  without  a  cordial  and  united 
support,  the  animating  prospects  with  which,  for  the  twenty  years 


RAPID  I'HOGRESS  OF  THE  WORK LARGE  EXPENDITURES.  49 

preceding,  the  work  had  continued  to  be  cherished  by  the  city,  through 
every  species  of  disappointment,  as  her  only  hope  of  protection  against 
the  dangerous  rivah'ics  by  wliicli  she  was  surrounded. 

In  January,  1850,  a  ditTerence  of  opinion  having  arisen  between 
the  Company  and  the  city  of  Wlieeling,  relative  to  the  route  by  which 
the  road  should  enter  that  city,  President  Swann  Avas  compelled  to 
visit  Richmond  to  endeavor  to  counteract  an  application  which  was 
proposed  to  be  made  by  Wheeling  to  the  Legislature  to  arrest  the 
progress  of  the  work.  At  a  general  meeting  of  the  Stockholders,  held 
ou  the  1st  of  May,  1851,  the  President  explained  the  whole  contro- 
versy, in  an  address  of  great  length,  and  recommended  that  the  law, 
obtained  from  the  Legislature,  which  compelled  the  adoption  of  the 
Grave  Creek  route  be  promptly  accepted,  rather  than  submit  to  fur- 
ther delay. 

The  first  division  of  the  road  west  of  Cumberland,  to  Piedmont,  a 
distance  of  twenty-eight  miles,  was  opened  early  in  June,  1851,  with 
api)ropriate  ceremonies,  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  Baltimore, 
with  a  large  number  of  citizens,  being  present  by  invitation  of  the 
Company. 

In  the  fall  of  1851,  the  disbursements  of  the  road  were  over 
$200,000  per  month,  for  construction.  After  a  period  of  ease  and 
abundance,  the  Board  found  themselves,  almost  without  warning,  in 
the  midst  of  a  financial  crisis,  with  a  family  of  more  than  live  thou- 
sand laborers  and  one  thousand  two  hundred  horses  to  be  provided  for, 
while  their  treasury  was  rapidly  growing  weaker,  and  with  no  means 
of  replenishing  it  sufficiently  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  overwhelming 
demands  made  upon  it.  The  crisis  demanded  that  no  timid  or  tem- 
porizing policy  should  mark  the  proceedings  of  the  Board  in  the  en- 
deavor to  place  themselves  in  a  position  to  meet  any  contingency 
which  was  likely  to  arise,  and  the  great  financial  abilities  of  Mr.  Swann 
were  again  taxed  to  their  utmost  to  prevent  such  a  catastrophe  as  the 
suspension  of  operations  which  seemed  to  threaten  on  the  unfinish- 
ed road.  The  commercial  existence  of  the  city  of  Baltimore  de- 
pended on  its  prompt  and  successful  prosecution,  and  to  have  fiiltered 
at  tliis  critical  juncture,  at  any  hazard — however  remote — of  endan- 
gering tlie  great  interests  intrusted  to  their  charge,  would  have  been  to 
have  deliberately  invited  the  just  censure  of  those  to  whom  the  Presi- 
dent and  Board  held  themselves  responsible.  In  the  views  of  Mr. 
Swann,  the  Board  concurred,  and  did  not  hesitate  for  a  moment  as  to 
the  proper  policy  to  be  pursued.  After  repeated  efforts,  at  home  and 
abroad,  to  bring  their  bonds  to  the  favorable  notice  of  capitalists,  they 
3 


50  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPEXING. 

finally  succeeded,  as  a  last  resort,  in  negotiating  a  sale  of  the  whole 
amount  applicable  to  construction,  at  a  limit  of  eighty  per  cent., 
deeming  this  sacrifice  of  minor  importance  to  the  suspension  of  oper- 
ations on  the  road. 

In  reviewing  the  financial  policy  of  the  Company,  at  this  day,  it  is 
confidently  believed  that  there  is  no  measure  whicli  has  contributed 
more  to  its  substantial  and  lasting  benefit  than  the  sale  of  these  coupon 
bonds  at  the  time  and  under  the  circumstances  which  attended  the 
transaction.  It  Avas  in  fact  the  turning  point  in  the  progress  and  suc- 
cess of  the  road.  The  remaining  $700,000  was  subsequently  sold  at 
eighty-seven  per  cent., — the  discount  to  wliich  the  Company  was  ex- 
posed being  considered  to  represent  but  faintly  the  more  ruinous  sac- 
rifice to  which  they  would  have  been  subjected  by  the  delay  of  a  sin- 
gle season  in  the  opening  of  their  road — to  say  nothing  of  the  risk  of 
a  financial  crisis,  a  total  suspension  of  their  work,  and  the  general 
-withdrawal  of  the  public  confidence,  consequent  upon  the  postpone- 
ment of  the  prospect  which,  for  so  long  a  period,  had  sustained  the 
Board  aud  the  community  in  their  untiring  efforts  to  open  a  commu- 
nication with  the  resources  of  the  great  West. 

To  give  some  idea  of  the  large  financial  operations  of  the  Com- 
pany, and  the  troubles  and  anxieties  devolving  on  the  President  and 
Board  in  the  extension  of  the  road  beyond  Cumberland,  during  the 
twenty-four  months  closing  with  the  first  of  October,  1852,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  refer  to  the  exhibit  of  the  Treasurer,  which  shows  tiiat 
the  amount  expended  during  that  time,  for  the  construction  of  the 
road  west  of  Cumberland,  was  the  enormous  sum  of  seven  millions  two 
hundred  and  seventTj'One  thousand  seven  hundred,  and  thirty-tioo  dol- 
lars and  fifty-one  cents.  When  to  this  it  is  recollected  that  Mr. 
Swann  entered  upon  his  duties  with  a  debt  of  more  than  $250,000 
hanging  over  the  Company,  the  result  furnishes  the  best  comment  upon 
the  policy  which  was  adopted  and  steadily  pursued. 

On  the  22d  day  of  June,  1852,  the  road  was  formally  opened  to 
the  town  of  Fairmont  on  the  Monongahela  River,  seventy-one  miles 
east  of  "Wheeling,  from  which  time  the  trains  ran  to  that  point  Avith  a 
re'^ularity  scarcely  surpassed  on  any  part  of  the  old  road  between 
Baltimore  and  Cumberland.  A  splendid  banquet  was  given  at  Fair- 
mont to  about  three  hundred  guests  of  the  Company,  at  which  senti- 
ments and  speeches,  indicative  of  the  joyousness  of  the  occasion, 
abounded.  In  reply  to  several  complinientary  sentiments  to  President 
Swann,  which  were  received  with  general  enthusiasm,  he  stated 
that  while  deeply  impressed  with  tlie  flattering  manner  in  wliich  his 


OPENING  TO  FAIRMONT,   1852 HEAVY  GRADES  AITROVED.       51 

name  had  been  introduced,  he  thought  that  too  much  credit  had  been 
attributed  to  him.  He  had  done  no  more  than  his  duty  as  a  citizen  of 
Baltimore;  and  the  credit  of  the  success  which  had  attended  the 
etYorts  of  tlie  Board  he  had  tlie  honor  to  represent,  was  due  more  to 
tlie  able  and  public-spirited  men  wlio  had  been  associated  witli  him, 
in  directing  the  aftairs  of  the  great  corporation  over  which  he  pre- 
sided, than  to  any  efforts  of  his  own.  Mr.  Swann  alluded  t(j  the  many 
"tiglit  places"  in  which  they  had  found  themselves,  at  home  and 
abroad,  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  and  in  his  own  State,  among 
rival  and  conflicting  interests — from  all  the  troubles  of  whicli  they  had 
now  emerged,  formidable  as  they  were — and  tlius  eloquently  expressed 
his  feelings  on  the  anticipated  consummation  of  the  enterprise  : 

"  These  embarrassments  hare  at  no  time  taken  me  by  surprise ;  they  are 
the  concomitants  of  a  bold  and  mighty  undertaking ;  they  are  incident  to  all 
great  works  like  the  present ;  and  I  deem  it  no  more  tlian  jnst  to  myself  to 
say  here,  in  the  presence  of  this  distinguished  company,  that  liad  tliey  been 
ten  times  more  formidable  than  they  have  thus  far  proved,  I  would  rather 
have  encountered  the  risk  of  verifyinj);  the  predictions  which  have  been  so  con- 
fidently hazarded — of  burying  myself  in  the  gorges  of  the  mountains  with 
whicli  we  have  triumphantly  grappled — with  the  ruins  of  this  splendid  work 
as  tlie  only  monument  to  mark  my  connection  with  the  public  affairs  of  your 
State  and  city,  than  I  would  have  relaxed  in  one  single  efifort  to  give  to  the 
State  of  jMaryland  the  benefits  of  this  great  national  highway.  I  say,  gen- 
tlemen, that  I  would  have  gloried  in  the  7-uins  of  this  stupendous  work,  as  a 
prouder  inheritance  to  those  who  come  after  me,  than  all  the  reputation,  and 
all  the  credit,  and  all  the  honor  that  could  have  been  heaped  upon  those  who 
would  have  stood  in  the  way  of  its  successful  prosecution. 

"  Gentlemen,  a  lew  months  now  will  bring  you  to  a  close  of  your  labors, 
and  it  will  then  be  seen  whose  voice  has  been  prophetic.  I  have  indulged  in 
no  extravagant  speculations.  I  may  not  be  connected  with  this  work  when 
the  matured  fruits  of  your  labors  begin  to  flow  in  upon  you.  I  trust,  o;entle- 
men,  it  will  have  passed  into  abler  and  more  competent  hands.  But  it  will 
always  be  a  source  of  pride  to  me — greater  than  the  applause  of  Senates — 
more  to  be  coveted  than  the  renown  of  the  battle-field,  that  my  humble  name 
should  have  been  connected  with  an  enterprise  to  which  the  progress  of  inter- 
nal improvements  in  this  country  presents  no  parallel,  and  which  is  destined 
to  dispense  its  blessings  to  the  present  as  well  as  future  generations,  not  only 
in  the  State  of  Marylaud,  but  throughout  the  Union." 

The  opening  to  Fairmont  was  the  accomplishment  of  what  for 
some  years  previous  to  the  administration  of  Mr.  Swann,  was  regarded 
as  the  limit  of  the  ability  of  the  Company,  (without  some  intermission 
in  its  labors,)  towards  completing  its  coimection  with  the  Ohio  River. 
It  was  here  that  the  Company  intended  to  take  a  breathing  spell.  It 
was  deemed  glory  enough  for  one  effort  to  have  formed  a  connection 
with  the  Monongahela,  without  looking  to  the  more  cheering  ])rospect 
beyond  it.     Thus  it  was  that  the  amu)unceinent  of  the  determination 


52  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

of  the  Board  to  put  the  whole  line  under  contract  was  considered  by 
many  to  have  been  little  less  than  madness.  But  the  Company  de- 
sired no  breathing  spell  when  competition  was  at  their  door.  They  had 
tlius  far  pressed  on  in  the  face  of  the  most  formidable  embarrass- 
ments,— they  had  taken  no  step  backward. 

In  the  trip  to  Fairmont,  the  highest  ranges  of  the  Alleghaniea 
were  crossed,  and  those  who  had  proclaimed  the  impracticability  of 
working  a  grade  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  feet  to  the  mile,  became 
satisfied  that  their  apprehensions  were  groundless,  and  that  the  iron 
horse  could  accomplish  still  greater  imaginary  impracticabilities  than 
that.  The  whole  train  on  account  of  a  slight  accident  in  the  King- 
wood  Tunnel,  was  conveyed  over  the  mountain  on  a  grade  of  over  five 
hundred  feet  to  the  mile,  or  one  foot  to  nine,  showing  that  even  at  such 
an  elevation,  there  were  very  few  things  impracticable  to  science,  art, 
and  the  power  of  steam. 

Mr.  Swann,  as  early  as  1851,  promised  to  stand  with  his  guests  of 
the  city  of  Baltimore  and  the  States  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  on  the 
banks  of  the  Oiiio  at  Wheeling  on  the  1st  of  January,  1853,  and  on 
that  day  the  first  train  passed  through,  fulfilling  the  prediction  almost 
literally.  The  opening  celebration  took  place  however  not  until  the 
tenth  and  twelfth  of  the  same  month — it  having  been  postponed  for  a 
few  days  in  order  to  allow  time  for  the  people  of  Wheeling  to  pre- 
pare for  the  reception  of  the  five  hundred  guests  that  received  her 
hospitalities  on  the  auspicious  occasion.  Since  that  time  passengers 
have  been  daily  carried  from  the  Chesapeake  to  the  Ohio,  and  from 
tlie  Ohio  to  the  Chesapeake,  in  the  brief  space  of  sixteen  hours,  and 
the  road  has  been  put  in  perfect  condition  for  carrying  the  immense 
stock  of  freight  continually  accumulating  on  the  Ohio  for  transpor- 
tation across  the  Alleghanies.  The  eloquent  closing  remarks  of  Mr. 
Swann's  annual  report,  announcing  the  consummation  of  the  great  un- 
dertaking, are  worthy  of  general  perusal.     They  are  as  follows: 

"  It  is  now  twenty-six  years  since  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Com- 
pany made  tlieir  first  annual  report  to  the  enterprising  stockholders,  by  whose 
capital  and  public  spirit  this  Board  was  called  into  being.  Of  those  who  stood 
prominent  in  its  early  organization,  few  have  survived  the  delay  which  has 
attended  the  progress  of  this  road,  or  will  be  present  to  rejoice  with  us  in  the 
work  of  final  completion.  In  the  animating  prospects  of  the  future,  it  becomes 
us,  however,  not  to  forget  wliat  is  due  to  those  who  have  borne  a  part  in  the 
conception  of  the  grand  idea  which  it  embodies.  History  will  do  justice  to 
the  past  as  well  as  the  present. 

"  After  years  of  delay,  surrounded  by  embarrassments,  and  staggering  un- 
der the  vastness  of  the  undertaking — with  a  credit  almost  exhausted — its  few 
remainiu'T  friends  scattered  and  disheartened — a  comniunity  over-taxed — and 


COMPLETED  TO   WHEELING,  JANUAIIV,   1853,  53 

an  opposition  rendered  formidaLle  by  the  honesty  of  the  convictions  under 
which  they  acted — this  great  work  entered  upon  its  extension  from  Cumber- 
hind  to  the  city  of  "VVheehng,  a  distance  of  more  than  two  hundred  miles. 
Throufih  every  vicissitiade  of  climate,  obstn;cted  by  interminable  rocks,  or 
opposed  by  a  succession  of  mountain  barriers,  altoa;ether  -(v-ithout  a  parallel  in 
the  progress  of  similar  enterprises,  by  day  and  by  night,  it  has  pressed  forward 
in  such  a  march  as  human  labor  is  seldom  called  to  encounter,  sustained  only 
by  that  determined  spirit  which  so  strongly  marks  the  character  of  the  age  in 
■which  we  live  ;  until  it  is  now  within  reach  of  the  goal  for  which  it  has  been 
so  long  striving. 

"  To  this  noble  city  what  a  prospect  it  discloses !  In  the  midst  of  a  rivalry 
stimulated  by  the  importance  and  magnitude  of  the  results  at  issue,  her  mighty 
destiny  is  already  foreshadowed.  The  rich  prize  is  within  her  grasp.  The 
union  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Chesapeake,  by  the  favorite  highway  which  nature 
has  indicated,  is  no  longer  among  the  probabilities  of  the  future  ;  and  the  city 
of  Baltimore,  so  long  retarded  in  her  progress,  may  yet  realize  the  glowing 
anticipations  of  that  illustrious  man — the  first  to  foreshadow  the  results  of  so 
grand  an  undertaking — whose  imposing  column  as  it  towers  in  her  midst, 
when  it  reflects  the  parting  sun  as  it  goes  down  upon  the  empire  of  Western 
commerce,  will  look  with  renewed  pride  upon  the  enterprise  and  public  spii'it 
of  a  people  whose  indomitable  courage  has  achieved  the  lasting  glory  of  bind- 
ing together  these  remote  extremes  of  our  Union." 

The  names  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  under  whose  auspices  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  was  completed,  (among  whom  it  will  be 
observed  that  George  Beown  is  the  only  director  who,  in  that  capa- 
city, saw  "  the  beginning  and  the  end,")  are  as  follows : 

THOMAS  SWANN,  President  of  the  Company. 
{Elected  ly  the  Board  of  Directors  anmially  in  October.) 

D  1 11 E  C  T  0  R  S . 

ON  THE  rALlT  OF  THE  STOCKHOLDERS: 

Ri;n.iai>iin  Dicioud,  Johns  Hopkins, 

William  M<  Kim,  John  I.  Donaldson, 

Columbus  O'Donnell,  Cil\kles  M.  Kkyser, 

James  H.  CArvTER,  Edavard  Patterson, 

Fn:r,i)iNG  Lucas,  Jr.  Samuel  W.  Smith, 

Jamics  Swanx,  Nathan  Tyson. 

REPRESENTING   THE    STATE    OF    MARYLAND: 
{Elected  anmiaUy  hy  the  Board  of  Puhlic  Works.) 

Georgk  Bkown,  a.  B.  Hanson, 

Benjamin  C.  Howard,  James  J.  Lawn, 

Joshua  Vansant,  Dr.  Howard  Kennedy, 

Daniel  J.  Foi.ev,  IIicnry  S.  Gahrett, 

WiLLiAJi  D.  Bowie,  Petlr  Mowell. 


54  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING, 

EEPRESENTING  THE  CITY  OF  BALTIMORE : 
(Elected  annually  by  the  City  Council.) 

Jacob  G.  Davies,  Wesley  Starr, 

Jajies  a.  Bkuce,  J.  J.  Turner, 

TlI03L\S    0.   SOLLERS,  JoHN    T.  FakLOW, 

John  H.  Ehlen,  Mexdes  I.  Cohen. 

J.  I.  ATKINSON,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Company. 
{Elected  hy  the  Board  of  Directors  aymually.) 

The  cost  of  constructing  the  road  from  Cumberland  to  Wheeling  is 
stated  by  the  Chief  Engineer  to  have  been  $0,631,721,  which  makes 
the  wliole  first  cost  for  construction  from  Baltimore  to  Wheeling,  in- 
cluding the  Locust  Point  Branch  and  Camden  Station,  up  to  March, 
1853,  $15,628,903  24,  as  follows: 

"  From  Baltimore,  to  Harper's  FeiTy     .         .         .         $4,000,000  00 
From  Harper's  Feriy  to  Ciuiiberland  .  .         .     3,623,60G  28 

From  Cmiiberlaiid  to  WheeUng     ....         6,G31,721  00 
Reconstructioi)  East  of  Cumberland  .         .         .       962,589  02 

Extension  Road  to  Locust  Point,  &c.     .         .     '    .  180,205  63 

Camden  Street  Station  Ground  ....      230,841  31 


$15,628,963  24" 

The  above  is  a  statement  of  the  cost  of  the  construction  of  the  road 
only  of  the  main  stem,  independent  of  the  Washington  Brancb  and 
tlie  Northwestern  Virginia  Railroad,  the  tunnels,  second  track,  the 
cost  of  stations,  locomotives,  oars,  &c.  The  whole  amount  expended 
u[)on  the  work  up  to  October.  1857.  has  been  $30,000,000,  and  about 
one  million  more  will  probably  be  needed  to  perfect  its  plans,  thus 

SWELLING  ITS    AGGREGATE  COST   TO  THE    ENORMOUS   SUM  OF    $31,000,000. 

llad  the  enterprising  men  who  originated  this  great  undertaking  im- 
agined it  would  have  cost  any  thing  approaching  this  vast  amount,  it 
can  scarcely  be  supposed  that  they  would  have  commenced  it  at  all. 
Even  if  their  energies  had  not  been  checked  by  sucli  an  array  of  figures, 
they  would  hardly  have  been  able  to  raise  funds  enough  on  such  a 
stock  to  have  carried  the  road  beyond  EUicott's  Mills.  On  reference 
to  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting  of  citizens,  held  on  the  12th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1827,  at  which  it  was  resolved  to  apply  to  the  Legislature  for 
a  charter  to  construct  the  road,  we  find  the  views  entertained  at  that 
time  by  its  originators  as  to  its  cost,  distance,  tolls,  time  of  transit,  «&c., 
Stated  as  follows: 

"  Highest  estimated  cost  of  construction  .         .     $5,000,000 

Distance  from  Baltimore  to  Ohio  liiver     .  .  290  miles. 

AnuHal  income  from  tolls $750,000 

Time  to  pass  from  Baltimore  to  the  Ohio         .         .      62^  hours." 


ACTUAL  RESULTS  COMPARED   WITH  FIRST  ESTIMATES.  55 

Tt  will  thus  be  seen  that  while  their  estimate  of  the  probable  first 
cost  of  constructing  tlie  road  is  less  than  one-third  of  its  reality,  the  esti- 
mate of  annual  income  is  scarcely  one-sixth  of  the  actual  revenue  for 
1857.  They  also  fell  nearly  100  miles  sliort  in  regard  to  distance. 
Tiiesc  estimates  were  made,  however,  before  tlie  route  had  been  sur- 
veyed, at  a  period  when  railroads  were  not  in  existence,  and  therefore 
without  any  data  upon  which  to  base  tliem.  Tlieir  estimate  of  the 
time  required  to  pass  from  Baltimore  to  the  Oiiio  was  also  nearly 
four-fold  greater  than  the  present  running  time.  To  the  few  sur- 
vivors of  that  noble  band  of  citizens,  tlie  fact  that  their  estimates  have 
mainly  proved  more  favorable  than  they  anticipated,  must  be  as  grati- 
fying to  them  as  their  witnessing  of  the  completion  of  the  great  enter- 
prise according  to  their  original  design, — "  to  the  waters  of  the  Ohio." 

x'ne  road  being  now  built  to  its  terminus,  President  Swann  deter- 
mined to  obtain  full  relief  from  the  cares  devolving  upon  him,  and  at 
the  April  session  of  the  Board,  in  1853,  he  resigned  his  position,  and 
went  abroad  upon  a  tour  of  Europe.  He  retired  with  the  respect  of 
the  community  of  Baltimore,  and  of  all  who  had  taken  an  interest  in 
the  great  enterprise  which  his  ability  and  zeal  had  done  so  much  to  com- 
plete. ^Villiam  G.  Harrison,  an  intelligent  and  experienced  Baltimore 
merchant  of  approved  integrity,  was  unanimously  chosen  as  Mr. 
Swaun's  successor,  and  was  twice  re-elected  to  tlie  Presidency  at  the 
annual  meetings  of  the  Company,  creditably  holding  the  position  until 
November;  1855,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  tlie  present  incumbent, 
Chauncy  Brooks,  who  was  recently  re-elected  for  the  third  year,  ex- 
piring October,  1858. 

Tt  is  proper  to  state  that  the  foregoing  history  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  liailroad,  from  the  date  of  its  inception  to  its  crowning  trium^^h, 
at  Wheeling,  is  derived  from  a  volume  publislied  in  1853,  by  "a  citizen 
of  Baltimore."  The  tacts  are  chiefly  derived  from  that  book,  although 
the  text  has  been  altered  in  some  parts  in  adapting  them  to  the 
present  work.  Interesting  details  of  this  road's  history  from  its  open- 
ing to  "Wiieeling  down  to  the  present  time,  derived  from  official  sources, 
will  be  found  in  the  next  chapter. 


THE 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF   1857. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HISTORICAL  AND  STATISTICAL  DATA  CONCERNING  THE  COMPLETION 
AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  BALTIMORE  AND  OHIO  RAILROAD,  FROM 
1852  TO  1S5T,  INCLUSIVE. 

New  Station  at  Baltimore. — The  anticipated  expansion  of  tlie  oper- 
ations of  the  road,  upon  its  completion  to  the  Ohio  river,  required 
extensive  and  varied  provisions  in  the  way  of  equipment  and  other 
focilities,  among  which  was  larger  city  station  accommodation  at  Bal- 
timore than  the  old  Pratt  street  premises  afforded.  President  Swann, 
in  his  annual  report  for  1852,  explains  the  action  of  the  Company  in 
securing  this  object.  Although  the  Company's  premises  at  Mount 
Clare  Station  were,  even  then,  very  extensive,  it  was  found  impossible 
to  furnish  adequate  accommodation  there  without  interference  with 
the  growing  wants  of  the  machinery  department,  whose  numerous 
buildings,  with  the  tracks  incidental  thereto,  now  absorb  the  entire 
twenty  acres  of  ground  therein  embraced.  Besides,  its  remoteness  as  a 
place  of  delivery  prevented  its  use,  and  required  the  transfer  of  the 
city  business  to  some  more  convenient  and  central  location. 

Accordingly  a  purchase  was  made  of  three  entire  squares  of  ground 
fronting  on  Camden  street,  but  one  block  from  Pratt,  between  Eutaw 
and  Howard  streets,  with  a  breadth  of  330  feet,  and  a  depth  of  more 
than  1,100  feet  between  Camden  and  Lee  streets,  including  the  beds  of 
Conway  and  Barre.  This  ])urchase  was  received  with  general  favor, 
and  comported  admirably  with  the  vastncss  of  the  enterprise,  whose 
accunmlatcd  treasures  the  new  station  was  destined  to  receive.  Every 
facility  was  afforded  by  tlie  corporate  authorities  of  Baltimore  in  es- 
tablishing the  station,  including  tlie  allowance  of  the  privilege  of 
locomotive  steam  power  by  such  approaches  as  were  convenient  and 


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NEW  STATIONS EQUlI'iMENT  OF  B.  AND  O.  K.  R.  o7 

aclvaiifii!J:eous.  The  iiiiprovenicnts  on  tins  lot  consisted  at  first  only  of 
sucli  tracks  and  buildings  as  ai)peared  indispensable  for  the  opening  of 
the  road.  These  ouibraced  a  central  line  of  broad  sheds  and  platforms 
for  both  passengers  and  freiglits,  from  Lee  street  np  to  Conway,  some 
750  feet  in  length.  Two  freight  sheds  and  platforms  on  Entaw  street, 
also  two  blocks  long,  were  afterwards  added,  with  a  substantial  engine 
house,  turn-table,  water  tanks,  sundry  offices,  &c.  These  sheds,  Avhich 
yet  remain,  though  of  permanent  carpentry,  roofed  with  iron,  and 
well  tinished,  were  designed  as  but  temporary  structures  to  give  place 
to  those  belonging  to  a  more  extended  plan. 

The  plan  of  the  buildings  which  is  now  being  gradually  carried 
out,  embodies  features  of  an  exceedingly  striking  architectural  fitness 
and  beauty.  The  keystone  of  the  first  range  was  finished  during  the 
present  year  of  1857,  being  the  centre  of  the  main  building  on  Camden 
street,  in  which  the  general  ofl3cers  of  tlie  com]iany  are  now  located. 
The  cut  presented  in  these  pages  affords  a  view  of  this  structure,  with 
its  wings,  as  it  is  intended  to  appear  when  finished. 

A  New  Station  at  Wueei.ing. — Similar  provision  was  made  for 
a  city  station  at  Wheeling,  where  ample  buildings  of  a  permanent 
character  for  the  heaviest  freighting  and  passenger  business  have  been 
since  erected,  immediately  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  contiguous  to 
the  chief  hotels  and  the  business  centre  of  the  place. 

Equipment. — At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1852,  when  the 
extension  of  the  road  from  Cumberland  to  Wheeling  had  only  pene- 
trated the  Alleghanies,  provision  was  made  for  procuring  the  ecpiip- 
ment  necessary  to  accommodate  the  probable  trade  npon  its  comple- 
tion to  the  Ohio  river. 

At  that  period  the  equipment  may  be  stated  as  follows : — Loco- 
motives of  all  kinds,  85,  of  which  41  only  were  of  the  first  class;  pas- 
senger cars  of  all  kinds,  70  ;  tonnage  cars  of  all  kinds,  1,485. 

The  estimate  required  the  addition  of  82  locomotives,  42  passenger, 
and  1,.jOO  tonnage  cars,  which  would  increase  the  equipment  to  1G7 
locomotives,  118  ])assenger,  and  2,785  tonnage  cars. 

The  estimated  revenue  to  be  earned  by  the  machinery  thus  pro- 
posed, was  $4,092,000,  of  which  $900,000  was  from  passengers,  and 
$:3, 192,000  from  f-eights. 

Since  this  period,  the  revenue  of  the  road  has  swollen  to  more 
than  $5,000,000,  and  its  equipment,  in  the  fall  of  1857,  was  as  follows: 

Number  of  Locomotives,  230,  of  which  178  are  of  the  first  class, 
3* 


58  GREAT    OHIO    AXD    MISSISSU'PI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

weitrliing  u[)on  an  average  30  tons  each,  without,  their  tenders.  Number 
of  Passenger  Cars,  124;  number  of  Tonnage  Cars  of  all  kinds,  3,668, 
making  a  grand  total  of  more  than  4,000  engines  and  cars,  consti- 
tuting the  largest  equijnnent  of  any  railway  company  in  the  United 
States^  and  fully  adequate  to  the  production  of  an  annual  revenue  of 
more  than  $6,000,000;  say  $1,000,000  from  passengers,  and  the  re- 
mainder from  tonnage. 

Revenue  and  Working  Operations. — For  the  fiscal  year  of  1852, 

(ending  30tli  September,)  the  road  being  in  operation  for  308  miles, 

from  Baltimore  to  Fairmont,  on  the  Monongahela  river,  the  revenue 

earned  was  as  follows: — 

From  passengers,  .......         $314, 01 4  47 

"     merchandise,  .....  l,010,Gi9  18 

Making  an  aggregate  of        .         .         .     §1,325,563  65 

For  the  fiscal  year  of  1853  (the  roud  being  operated  in  its  entire 
length  for  but  six  months  of  the  year,  from  April  1st  to  October  1st), 
the  revenue  was  as  follows  : — 

From  passengers,  (including  additional  mail  service,)      s464,244  91 
"     merchandise,    ......  1,569,174  89 


Beinjr  an  increase  of  ?;707,856  15. 

Maldng  an  aggregate  of         .         .     $2,033,419  80 

In  coiUiection  with  the  working  oi)erations  of  the  road  during  this 
period,  we  quote  tlie  Annual  Report  of  "William  Parker,  the  General 
Superintendent,  Avho  says: — 

"The  operations  of  the  Transportation  department  have  been  attended  with 
very  serious  embarrassments  during  tlie  year.  Not  only  was  a  vast  thorough- 
fare to  be  opened  through  a  comparative  wilderness,  with  unfinisbed  gradua- 
tion and  bridges,  and  without  buildings  for  the  repair  and  erection  of  ma- 
chinery, adequate  sidings  for  trains,  or  any  of  the  comforts  of  life  for  oiu* 
officers  and  hands ;  but  an  organization  was  to  be  suddenly  and  vastly  in- 
creased, in  face  of  the  demand  for  railroad  skill  and  experience,  which,  on  the 
most  ibrtunately  situated  of  tlie  railro:ids  of  oiu-  country,  has  been  greatly  in 
advance  of  the  supply.  Few  can  estimate  the  formidable  character  of  this 
dirticulty,  wliicli  may  be  safely  said  to  Lave  affected  every  movement  we  have 
made,  bnwevcr  small. 

•'  Tlic  Through-business  to  and  from  the  West  has  been  meagre,  in  com- 
parison with  what  our  more  Northern  railroad  lines  have  done,  with  Western  con- 
nections better  matured,  and  independent  of 'high'  or  'low'  water  in  the  Ohio 
river ;  connections  which  mc  hope  soon  to  match,  by  railroad  to  Zanesville, 
Columbus,  etc  ,  westward,  and  to  Cleveland  north,  and  thence  to  Chicago 
north we.'itward, — not  to  dwell  upon  the  line  to  Parkersburg,  which  will  lead 
the  way,  immediately  during  good  water,  and  early  by  land,  in  the  shortest 
line  from  the  seaboard  to  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis." 


UEVESUE  AND  WORKING   OPERATIONS  OF  B.  AND  O.  R.  H.  59 

For  the  year  1854,  (being  the  first  during  the  Avholo  of  wliicli  the 
euth'e  length  of  road  was  operated,)  the  revenue  was  as  follows  : — 

From  passengers,    .......       $569,091  51 

'•     merchandise, 3,070,517  92 


Making  an  aggregate  of       .         .         .         $3,645,609  43 

Being  an  increase  of  $1,612,189  63,  of  which  $104,840  60  Was  in  pas- 
sengers, and  $1,507,343  03  in  tonnage, — the  proportion  of  par^senger 
revenue  being  but  15  per  cent,  of  the  aggregate,  which  is  explained  by 
Mr.  Done,  the  Master  of  Transportation,  iu  his  yearly'  Report : — 

"  For  many  years  the  Western  rivers  formed  the  gi-eat  avenues  of  travel  as 
well  as  of  trade.  With  no  rivals  -which  could  at  all  compete  in  the  essential 
requisites  of  speed  and  comfort,  the  splendid  steamers  which  plied  upon  those 
rivers  enjoyed  a  monopoly  of  the  passenger  husiness  during  the  whole  season 
of  navigation.  The  projection  of  the  different  railroad  enterprises  between 
the  East  and  West  looked  only  to  reaching  the  Western  waters  at  points  ac- 
cessible by  steamers,  scarcely'  considering  the  possibility  that  they  might  be 
superseded  by  the  older  methods  of  conveyance,  and  the  travel  of  the  country 
diverted  into  other  channels.  At  the  time  at  which  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
railroad  was  opened  to  the  Ohio  river,  however,  a  change  had  commenced,  and 
was  going  on  with  a  rapidity  which  surprised  all,  even  the  most  practical. 

"  Tiie  railroad  lines  leading  from  New  York,  had  formed  continuous  con- 
nections with  Cincinnati  and  other  important  cities  in  the  West,  and  the 
Peraisylvania  railroad  enjoyed  a  similar  advantage,  through  the  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania  and  Cleveland  and  Pittsburg  railroads.  The  business  travel, 
always  important  as  well  for  its  influence  as  for  its  amount,  attracted  by  the 
great  saAnng  of  time,  bad  already  been  turned  to  these  nortbern  lines,  leaving 
the  great  middle  or  national  route  over  which  it  had  for  so  many  years  con- 
tinued to  pass.  The  splendid  steamers  constructed  by  the  enterprise  of  the 
citizens  of  Wheeling,  known  as  the  Union  Line,  which,  no  doubt,  under  more 
favorable  circumstances,  would  have  brought  a  large  business  to  the  road,  were, 
within  a  few  months  after  they  had  been  placed  on  the  line,  stopped  by  low 
water,  and  from  June,  185.''.,  to  the  present  time,  have  not  been  able  to  run  for 
three  months  continuously.  Of  course  these  vessels  have,  up  to  this  time,  not 
only  proved  uiiprofitablo  to  their  owners,  but  have  failed  to  bring  any  consid- 
erabli-  number  of  passengers  to  the  road.  The  two  seasons  during  which  our 
road  has  been  in  operation  to  the  Ohio  river,  have  been  marked  by  an  unusual 
continuance  of  low  water — during  the  months  of  July,  August,  and  September, 
1854,  amounting  to  a  total  suspension  of  navigation  by  even  the  smallest  class 
of  vessels." 

For  the  year  1855  the  revenue  was  as  follows  : — 

From  passengers, $608,299  00 

"     merchandise,     ......  3,103,154  85 


Making  a  total  of $3,711,453  85 

Being  an  increase  of  $65,844  42. 


60  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

For  the  year  1850,  the  revenue  of  the  Company  was  as  follows: 

From  passengers, $672,999  56 

"     merchandise, 3,712,952  31 

Malung  a  total  of $4,385,951  87 

Being  an  increase  of  $674,498  02,  of  which  increase  |G5,000  was  in 
passengers,  and  $609,000  in  tonnage. 

In  liis  Report  for  this  year  the  President  (Channcy  Brooks)  remai'ks : 

"  In  view  of  the  large  and  increasing  trade,  the  Board  has  deemed  it  wise 
to  maintain  all  parts  of  the  road  and  ra:xchiner\'  in  the  best  and  most  effective 
condition,  and  has  authorized  and  urged  all  necessary  and  judicious  expendi- 
tures for  this  purpose.  The  liberal  course  thus  adopted  has  resulted  in  large 
disbursements,  viz ,  on  the  Main  Stem : 

For  repairs  of  locomotives  and  cars S602,205  41 

For  repairs  of  railway 582,374  28 

For  repairs  of  bridges 51,951  64 

"  The  true  economy  of  these  measures  has  been  demonstrated,  not  merely 
by  the  remarkable  exemption  from  casualties  on  the  road,  but  by  the  facility 
and  satisfaction  with  which  this  immense  business  has  been  transacted  ;  and, 
the  Board  takes  pleasure  in  stating  to  the  shareholders,  as  a  further  result  of 
this  system,  that  from  recent  inspection  of  the  road  and  machinery,  it  is  fully 
justified  in  saying  that  both  are  in  excellent  condition. 

"  The  substitution  of  iron  for  wooden  bridges  is  steadily  progressing  ;  for 
details  of  which  reference  is  requested  to  the  able  and  lucid  report  of  Mr. 
Wendal  Bollman,  master  of  road.  The  Board  also  refers  with  pleasure  to  his 
report  regarding  the  progress  of  the  work  of  arching  tunnels  and  constructing 
second  track. 

"  It  is  proper  to  state,  that  it  has  been  the  steadfast  purpose  of  this  Com- 
pany, not  only  to  maintain  and  jjerpetuate  their  road  and  machinery  in  good 
order,  but  to  constantly  improve  all  perishable  portions,  by  substituting  those 
of  a  more  durable  and  costly  character,  as  from  time  to  time  might  be  deemed 
necessary  or  expedient.  Of  this  nature  are  the  fine  iron  bridges  over  the 
JMonocacy,  Patapsco,  and  elsewhere,  instead  of  the  original  wooden  structures 
which  were  beginning  to  decay,  and  the  renewed  or  rebuilt  engines  and  cars 
which  are  supplied  with  the  latest  improvements ;  becoming,  therefore,  more 
effective  and  valuable  in  many  cases  than  when  new. 

"  The  large  amount  of  work  in  the  Kingwood  Tunnel  perfected,  and  the 
near  conipletion,  in  the  most  admirable  and  permanent  manner,  of  that  gigantic 
undertaking,  is  a  source  of  congratulation.  The  assurance  of  the  secure  con- 
dition of  the  tunnels  and  bridges  on  the  entire  line,  is  also  gratifymg. 

"  Under  the  order  of  the  Board,  adopted  in  May  last,  9  miles  of  additional 
second  track  have  been  completed,  and  the  graduation  and  arrangements  for 
the  remainder  then  ordered,  (21  miles,)  are  progressing  satisfactorily.  The 
Company  has  now  in  use,  in  addition  to  59  miles  of  sidings,  1004^  miles  of 
second  track." 

****** 

"In  addition  to  the  improved  economy  of  the  management,  and  heavy  in- 
crease in  the  tomiage  lor  the  West,  filling  cars  which  have  heretofore  been  re- 
turned empty,  ihe  large  net  result  of  the  year's  work,  is  attributable  to  the 
great  natural  advantage  enjoyed  by  this  road  in  its  supply  of  coal  for  fuel  on 


POLICY    OF    13.    AND    O.    RAILROAD    BOARD    IN     1856.  01 

its  own  line  at  very  low  cost.  The  average  rate  paid  by  the  Company  for  coal 
delivered  on  the  road  at  the  most  convenient  points,  has  been  80  cents  per  ton 
for  the  past  year.  Tims,  whilst  the  Company  has  transported  at  sucli  low  rates 
as  to  secure  an  immense  traffic,  the  great  comparative  advantage  over  its 
Northern  rivals  of  fuel  so  cheap,  has  swelled  the  net  profits  to  the  highly  satis- 
fixctory  amount  stated. 

"  For  upwards  of  200  miles  on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road, 
inexhaustible  supplies  of  bituminous  coal  exist,  the  comparative  prospective 
advantage  of  which  will  be  more  fully  appreciated  when  it  is  remembered  that 
on  the  principal  Northern  and  Eastern  lines,  the  cost  of  wood,  from  the  large 
consumption,  creating  the  necessity  annually  of  prociuring  supplies  from  greater 
distances,  will  gradually  increase." 

"  The  attractions  and  advantages  of  the  route  for  passengers  are  evidently 
becoming  daily  better  understood  and  appreciated  by  the  public,  as  the  in- 
creased revenue  from  this  source  exceeds  10  per  cent,  compared  with  the.  pre- 
ceding year.  Great  regularity  and  safety  of  the  trains  characterize  this  de- 
partment. With  the  facility  of  being  the  only  great  line  from  the  West  which 
can  ticket  passengers  and  check  baggage  through,  from  all  points,  to  the 
National  Metropolis  ;  and  with  the  peculiar  advantage  of  offering  to  merchants, 
and  travellers  for  pleasure,  the  opportunity  of  visiting  Baltimore,  Philadelphia, 
ai:d  New  York,  with  the  privilege  of  delaying  in  each  city,  at  the  lowest  cost 
at  which  passage  can  be  procured  by  any  route  to  the  latter  cities,  its  passenger 
traffic  may  be  expected  to  increase  continuously  and  largely. 

"  The  great  value  and  importance  of  our  connection  with  the  Central  Ohio 
road  has  during  the  past  season  been  most  thoroughly  illustrated.  Penetrat- 
ing, at  Columbus,  the  centre  of  the  great  network  of  railways,  extending  to 
the  cities  of  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  St.-Louis,  Chicago,  and  the  vastly  productive 
regions  l^'ing  between  and  beyond  these  points,  this  invaluable  Hnk  has  poured 
continuously  a  large  and  increasing  trade  and  travel  over  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  lioad,  and  into  the  city  of  Baltimore,  of  which,  without  it,  both  to  a  lai-ge 
extent  would  have  been  deprived.  Appreciating  the  importance  of  proper  ar- 
rangements for  crossing  freight  and  passengers  to  and  from  the  Central  Ohio 
road,  at  the  Ohio  river,  in  all  stages  of  water,  the  master  of  road  has  perfected 
an  arrangement  and  equipment  by  which  all  passengers,  and  one  thousand 
tons  of  freight  per  day,  can  be  satisfactorily  and  advantageously  transferred. 

"  The  most  diligent  and  energetic  attention,  under  the  policy  approved  by 
the  Board,  has  been  given  by  the  transportation  committee  to  the  development 
and  augmentation  of  all  business  that  could  be  secured  for  our  city;  and  the 
broad  jHilicy  of  giving  to  Baltimore  the  advantages  of  her  geographical  loca- 
tion, in  all  arrangements  for  through  freight  from  competing  points,  has  pro- 
duced an  effect  in  the  rapid  increase  of  her  business  and  prosperity  altogether 
uisprecedented. 

"  When  deemed  necessary  to  promote  the  trade  of  the  city,  and  enable  our 
merchants  to  compete  on  atlvantageous  terms  with  rival  cities,  liberal  deduc- 
tions in  the  tariil"  have  been  nuide.  In  the  leading  staples,  coflee,  sugar,  flour, 
grain,  and  the  like — this  course  has  been  pursued  with  most  satisfactory  results. 

"  In  every  feature  of  policy,  affecting  the  trade  of  the  city,  and  the  interests 
of  the  State,  the  Board  has  aimed  to  take  enlarged  and  comprehensive  views ; 
and,  now  has  the  j)rivilege  of  congratulating  the  State,  the  city,  and  the  in- 
dividual shareholders,  that  it  has  succeeded  in  inaugurating  an  era,  when 
stockholders  and  tax-payers  may  anticipate  reliably,  regular  returns  from 
their  investments  in  the  road,  the  removal  of  burthens  so  long  and  nobly 


62  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

borne,  and  may  depend  upon  a  rapid  progress  in,  and  protection  of  all  the 
great  interests  involved. 

"  Under  auspices  so  favorable,  with  all  the  impoi-tant  connected  interests 
finally  and  successfully  harmonized,  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  the 
pioneer  of  American  railways,  commenced  thirty  years  since,  will  rapidly 
achieve,  as  the  Board  believes,  its  mighty  destiny— tliat  of  the  route  favored 
by  natm-e  and  perfected  by  art,  which  will  have  uo  superior  on  this  continent." 

As  illustrative  of  the  improved  condition  of  the  road,  derived  from 
its  Avestern  connections  and  the  completion  of  its  appointments,  the  re- 
port of  Dr.  "W.  S.  Woodside,  Master  of  Transportation,  for  1856,  is 
quoted.     That  officer  says : 

"  The  greatly  improved  condition  of  the  Central  Ohio  Road,  tiniting  this 
road  by  so  short  a  line  with  Columbus,  Cincinnati,  Indianapolis,  and  Louis- 
ville— to  say  nothing  of  the  great  flour  and  live  stock  regions  of  Ohio  through 
which  it  passes — has  secured  to  us  a  constant  and  available  channel  of  com- 
munication, which  uo  untoward  state  of  river  navigation  can  affect.  By 
this  line,  therefore,  a  regular,  most  desirable,  and  profitable  freighting  busi- 
ness has  been  maintained  throughout  the  entire  summer,  and,  contrary,  to  pre- 
vious expectations,  an  average  revenue  of  more  than  .s400,000  per  month  has 
been  earned  for  the  last  three  or  four  months,  during  which  the  Ohio  river  has 
been  almost  dry.  *  »  *  «  *  * 

-"  Perhaps  there  is  no  feature  of  the  Company's  operations  during  the  past 
year,  that  presents  more  gratifying  results  than  that  of  the  flour  trade  ;  the 
flour,  brought  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road  into  the  city  of  Baltimore 
for  the  twelve  months,  having  reached  the  enormous  quantity  of  y44-,083 
barrels,  of  which  171,972  barrels  was  consigned  to  eastern  ports,  leaving 
762,1G1  barrels  as  the  contribution  of  the  road  to  the  trade  of  Baltimore 
city," 

For  tlie  fiscal  year  of  1S57,  ending  September  30,  the  revenue  of 
the  road  was  as  follows  : 

From  passengers .*732,262  49 

"     merchandise 3,884,736  46 

Makmg  a  total  of. $4,616,998  95 

being  an  increa.se  of  $281,047  08.  With  the  revenue  of  the  Washing- 
ton Branch,  of  $454,459  81,  added  to  the  revenue  of  the  Main  Stem, 
above  stated,  it  will  swell  tlie  aggregate  earnings  of  the  Company,  for 
the  year  just  closed,  to  the  sum  of  $5,071,458  79. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  tlie  progressive  development  of  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Itailroad,  from  year  to  year,  since  its  completion,  has 
steadily  continued ;  and  that  from  $1,325,000,  in  1852,  its  earnings 
for  the  Main  Stem  alone  have  already  swollen  to  nearly  $5,000,000 — 
being  an  increase  of  some  seventy  per  cent.,  or  nearly  (piadniple  in 
extent. 

With  its  present  Western  connections,  and  tlieir  further  improve- 


TIIROUGH    PASSIiNGEIl    BUSINESS    ON    B,  AND   O.  RAILROAD,       63 

inent  at  an  early  day  ;  the  use  of  its  jSTorth western  Virginia  Branch 
to  Parkersbiirg  :  tlie  ample  facilities  atibrded  by  its  complete  equip- 
ment, extended  double  track,  and  other  features;  the  revenue  may  be 
expected  to  still  increase  from  year  to  year — even  with  its  present 
large  disproportion  of  passenger  and  tonnage  business, — until  the  aggre- 
gate earnings  shall  vie  with  those  of  the  New  York  Central  Road, — 
whoso  passenger  returns  alone,  during  the  past  year,  reached  tlie 
enormous  sum  of  $3,207,378  32,  and  whose  aggregate  returns  bordered 
upon  8,000,000  of  dollars. 

TiiROtron  Passexgkk  BrsiNESs. — The  statistics  of  the  through 
travel  on  the  road,  since  its  opening  to  "Wheeling  in  the  spring  of  1858, 
show  a  peculiarly  steady  increase.  For  the  first  six  months — from 
April  to  October,  1853 — during  which  the  road  was  worked  in  its 
entire  length,  the  number  of  through  passengers  between  the  East  and 
West  Avas  but  2,48G. 

Number  of  through  passengers  for  the  year  lS~)i 10,980 

"  "  "         1855 19,869 

"  "  "         1856 27,405 

"  "  "         1857 38,236 

The  passenger  revenue  of  tlie  Main  Stem,  for  1857,  having  been 
$733,000,  and  the  proportion  thereof  from  through  travel  having 
been  about  $240,000,  it  would  appear  tliat  the  local  travel  of  the  road 
has  increased  but  comparatively  little  during  the  four  and  a  half  years 
just  elapsed  since  the  comjjletion  of  the  line  to  the  Ohio  river. 

In  reference  to  this  sulyect,  the  Master  of  Transportation,  Dr.  W.  S. 
Woodside,  in  his  report  for  1S57,  says : 

"Tlic  proportions  of  the  way  and  through  travel  for  the  year  have  been  as 
I'ollows,  viz. : 

Way  travnl :il7, 17],  equal  to  17,577,018  passengers  carried  1  mile. 

Throush  travel  (exclusive  of  that 

between    the    terminal    pi)inls 

proper  of  tlie  road) 38.2:3(5 13.659,-205  "  " 

Making  totnls  of 355, ■107  31,2.36,823  "  " 

It  will  be  noted  in  the  revenue  tables,  that  for  every  montli  in  the  year, — 
with  but  a  single  exception, — there  has  beea  an  increase  in  the  returns  for  pas- 
sengers. This  exception  was  in  May  last,  when  the  "strike"  riots  temporarily 
affected  the  traveh  Since  May  hist  the  iilcrcase  has  been  pecuUarly  marked, — • 
a  gratitying  result  which  arises  altogether  from  the  accession  of  through  travel, 
secured  by  the  completion  of  the  western  connecting  lines,  alluded  to  in  my 
last  annual  report  as  promising  to  contribute  largely  to  tliis  branch  of  our  bus- 
iness. Tlie  natural  attractions,  the  comforts,  and  the  business  advantages  of 
the  road  are  now  only  beginning  to  be  properly  appreciated,  and  as  they  be- 


04  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING, 

come  more  and  more  widely  known,  the  tide  of  travel  must  inevitably  swell 
I'rom  month  to  month,  to  the  corresponding  advantage  of  the  Company. 

"  Among  the  reliances  of  the  Company  for  an  increase  of  its  passenger 
earnings,  is  the  growing  sentiment  of  friendliness  between  the  people  of  Balti- 
more and  those  of  the  great  West,  of  which  so  many  evidences  were  seen  in 
the  celebration  of  the  opening  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  road  in  June  last, 
and  more  recently  in  the  entertainment  of  their  Western  visitors  by  the  citi- 
zens of  Baltimore.  The  first  occasion,  indeed,  was  one  in  which  the  true 
greatness  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road  was  generally  observed  and  com- 
mented upon  by  the  many  intelligent  participants  who  had  gathered  at  the 
great  centres  of  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis,  and  of  which  the  beneficial  influence 
has  been  already  sensibly  felt  in  the  interest  thus  awakened  in  the  route. 

"  The  peculiar  advantages  of  the  road  in  reference  to  its  direct  commu- 
nication,— both  from  the  East  and  the  West, — with  the  healthful  regions  of 
the  Alleghanies,  are  also  becoming  rapidly  availed  of  by  those  who  court  the 
pure  atmosphere  and  the  rare  scenery  that  render  a  summer  sojourn  there  so 
desirable.  The  newly  established  hotels  and  dining  halls  materially  add  to 
the  substantial  success  of  the  line  as  a  passenger  route,  having  afforded 
marked  satisfaction  to  the  travellers  who  have  experienced  the  comforts  they 
afford. 

"  A  large  proportion  of  the  increase  of  through  travel  is  found  in  the 
tickets  between  New  York  and  the  far  West,  the  advantages  presented  for  that 
business  by  this  road  continuing  to  attract  a  growing  share  of  the  passengers, 
especially  to  and  from  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis  and  tiie  great  Southwest. 

"  During  the  past  year  an  improved  business  has  been  done  in  carrying 
emigrants  to  the  West,  and  from  the  satisfaction  given  by  the  route  to  this 
travel,  a  further  increase  of  it  is  looked  for.  The  number  of  emigrant  pas- 
sengers carried  westwardly  during  the  year,  was  4,812,  of  which  1,295  were 
ticketed  at  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  and  3,517  at  Baltimore."' 

The  Telegraph. — Among  the  adjuncts  tliat  have  contributed  to 
the  successful  working  of  the  road,  and  which  is  destined  to  prove 
more  useful  in  future,  the  Company's  Telegrapli  Line  deserves  partic- 
ular notice.  The  value  of  an  Electric  Telegraph  in  facilitating  the 
operations  of  a  railroad  can  hardly  be  computed  by  dollars  and  cents. 
It  must  now  be  recognized  as  an  indispensable  auxiliary  to  a  well 
regulated  road,  and  esj^ecially  to  a  road  of  the  length  and  traffic  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio.  During  the  year  1857  a  new  and  improved  wire 
has  been  placed  upon  the  greater  portion  of  tlie  line,  and  additional 
stations  have  been  opened  so  as  to  greatly  enlarge  its  usefulness.  The 
line  has  lK;en,  in  all  respects,  more  thoroughly  organized — a  comjje- 
tent  su})eriiitendent  appointed— a  complete  code  of  rules  instituted  for 
tlie  government  of  tlie  operators,  and  provision  made  (by  the  Master 
of  tlie  Koad)  for  its  proper  and  constant  repair.  There  are  now  thirty 
stations,  witli  appropriate  instruments  and  operators,  making  one  for 
every  tliirteen  miles  of  road  between  Haltimore  and  Wheeling.  By 
the  agency  of  tlie  Telegraph,  the  Transportation  De])artment  is  kept 
constantly  advised  of  the  movements  of  the  trains,  and  arrangements 


THE    TKLEGRAl'Il WOUKIXG     ORGANIZATION    n.  AND   0.    R.  R.      65 

made  for  proinjitly  forwarding  such  as  may  be  thrown  out  of  time  by 
accidents  or  delays. 

By  this  means,  also,  the  most  accurate  time  is  kept  upon  the  entire 
road.  For  that  purpose  an  approved  astronomical  clock  is  provided 
at  Camden  Station,  in  Baltimore,  from  which  the  meridian  is  daily 
given  by  telegraph  to  each  of  the  other  twenty-nine  oflBceson  the  line, 
who  set  their  clocks  accordingly,  tlius  practically  insuring  a  corre- 
spondence of  time  for  the  380  miles  of  road. 

Organization. — The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  was  the  first  in 
the  United  States  to  adopt  tlie  working  organization  formerly  prac- 
tised ill  England,  whence  it  was  introduced  about  the  year  1840,  by  its 
then  president,  the  late  Hon.  Louis  McLane. 

This  consisted  mainly  in  the  division  of  the  superintendence  of  the 
working  operations  of  the  road  into  three  brandies,  called  the  "  Road,'' 
"  Machinery,"  and  "  Transportation  "  Departments,  respectively,  rang- 
ing in  the  order  here  named. 

The  position  of  General  Superintendent  was  abolished,  and  the  re- 
sponsibilities thereof  distributed  among  three  several  officers,  entitled, 
the  "  masters  "  of  the  departments  named. 

In  184:8,  upon  the  accession  of  the  Hon.  Thos.  Swann  to  the  presi- 
dency, and  upon  the  recommencement  of  operations  in  the  building  of 
the  road  from  Cumberland  to  Wheeling,  the  organization  Avas  changed 
by  the  introduction  of  a  General  Superintendent, — Mr.  William  Par- 
ker, from  the  Boston  and  Worcester  Road,  being  assigned  to  that 
jiosition. 

In  October,  1853,  the  general  superintendency  Avas  again  abolished, 
and  the  departmental  authority  revived.  This  is  still  in  force,  and 
may  be  briefly  explained  as  follows: 

The  Master  of  road  has  the  general  charge  of  all  matters  pertaining 
to  the  road-bed,  the  track,  bridges,  tunnels.  de[)ot  buildings  of  all  kinds, 
water-stations,  providing  water,  and  other  duties  incidental  to  the  prep- 
aration of  the  road  for  effectual  use. 

The  Master  of  machinery  has  the  immediate  and  full  direction  and 
control  of  the  purchase,  building,  and  repair  of  all  the  locomotive  and 
other  machincrj',  the  passenger,  freight,  and  other  cars;  and  the  pro- 
vision of  all  the  various  contrivances  essential  to  the  proper  equipment 
of  tlie  road. 

Tiic  Master  of  transportation  is  intrusted  with  the  procurement 
and  the  accommodation  of  the  trade  and  travel  of  the  road,  witli  the 
rates  of  charge  therefor,  the  pi'cparation  of  the  time-tables,  and  all 


06 


GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 


tlie  running  arrangement?,  and  the  varied  details  connected  with  the 
actual  working  operation  of  ilieline. 

Upon  the  completion  of  tlie  road  to  the  Ohio,  Avitli  the  great  ex- 
pansion of  labor  consequent  thereupon,  tlie  orgauizatiou  of  all  the 
dei)artments  was  necessarily  eidarged.  The  Master  of  road  was  as- 
signed two  general  assistants,  and  the  heads  of  the  other  departments 
one  assistant  each. 

In  consequence  of  the  rapid  development  of  its  business  relations 
with  other  roads,  the  organization  of  the  transportation  department  of 
the  Company  was  further  extended  by  the  institution  of  the  much- 
needed  offices  of  the  General  FreigJit  Agent  and  the  General  Ticket 
Agent.  A  Superintendent  of  its  Telegraph  is  also  employed  by  the 
Company. 

The  practical  operations  of  the  road  in  all  its  details,  are  im- 
mediately overlooked  by  a  nuuiber  cf  experienced  and  skilful  olficers 
occupying  the  position  of  Foremen;  Supervisors  of  trains,  of  engines, 
of  track,  of  bridges  and  of  water-stations,  and  of  live  stock  ;  and  a 
number  of  General  Agents  at  the  several  larger  first-class  stations. 

The  following  List  embraces  the  names  and  titles  of  the  principal 
general  officers  in  charge  of  the  Co)npany's  affairs,  on  the  1st 
day  of  January,  1858. 


OnAUNCY  Brooks, 
J.  J.  Atkinson, 
J.  H.  B.  Latrobe,  . 

W.  S.  WOODSIDE,*        . 

Wm.  p.  SjiiTir, 
L.  M.  Cole,*  . 
L.  S.  Gordon,    . 
John  M.  Sharp, 
John  King,  Jr., 
Wendell  Bollman,*     . 
J.  II.  Tegmeyer,* 
John  L.  Wilson,     . 
James  Clarke,* 
Henry  Tysox, 
D.  P.  Rennie,* 
C.  Westbrook, 
Alex.  Bittey,*     . 
B.  L.  Jacobs,* 

Note. — Those  markod  tlius  ■ 
cnpacitics. 


Date  of  present  Appointment. 

Oct.  1855. 

.    1834. 

1832. 

Dec.  1855. 

Feb.  1853. 

''     1854. 

Jan.  1856. 


President, 
.  Treasurer, 
Counsellor, 
.  Master  of  Transportation 
Assistant  do., 

"       Ticket         "      . 
.  General  Freight  Agent, 

General  Western  Passenger  Agt.  1856. 

.  Auditor,    ....  Jan.  1856. 

Master  of  Pvoad,      .         .  .     1849. 

.  Assistant       "  ,  Jan.  1853. 

"  "         .         .  "     1854. 

"  "  .         .  Apr.  185T. 

Master  of  Machinery,     .      June,  1856. 

.  Assistant       "  .         .     Jan.  1853. 

Superinten.  of  Telegraphs,      "     185G. 

Supervisor  of  Trains,         .       "     1855. 

Apr.  1856. 

Imtl  t-fTved  tlie  Company  Cor  years  previously  in   otlicr 


COST    AND    CAriTAL    OF    B.    AXU    O.    KAILROAD.  67 

To  affoni  a  better  idea  of  the  iininber  of  the  personnel  necessary 
to  the  current  operations  of  this  great  concern,  tlie  following  suinniary 
taken  from  a  recent  pay-roll,  is  given  : 

In  the  Road  department,  2,000  men. 

In  the  Machinery  department,  1.325  men. 

In  the  Transi)ortation  department,  1,575  men. 

Making  a  total  of  -1,900  persons. 

Allowing  for  the  "  short  time"  made  by  a  portion  of  those  who 
appear  upon  the  rolls,  there  Avonld  remain  about  4,500  persons  who 
ordinarily  make  "  full  time  "  in  the  Company's  service. 

Among  the  operatives  of  the  road  above  embraced,  may  be  named, 
ft)r  the  purpose  of  showing  the  extent  and  character  of  tlie  service, 
tlie  following,  viz. : 

254  conductors,  2-46  enginemen,  272  brakemeu,  260  firemen,  210 
watchmen,  S-t  telegraph  oi)erators. 

The  Cost  and  present  Capital  of  the  Road. — On  the  comple- 
tion of  the  road  to  Wheeling,  in  1853,  the  cost,  including  that  of  the 
Washington  Branch,  may  be  set  down  as  follows  : 

For  construction,  real  estate,  &c.         .         .     $17,329,498  85 
For  equipment,  ....  4,000,000  00 


Making  an  aggregate  of        .         .         .     $21,329,498  85 

Early  in  1854,  a  loan  Avas  granted  by  the  city  of  Baltimore,  ol 
$5,1j00,000,  for  an  additional  expenditure  in  the  following  objects : — 
To  [)ay  a  floating  debt  contracted  in  the  large  purchases  of  machinery 
at  the  opening  of  the  road;  to  build  100  miles  of  additional  second 
track ;  to  arch  the  tunnels  on  the  new  jjart  of  the  line  west  of  Cum- 
berland; to  complete  the  bridges  and  station  buildings,  and  to  add 
still  further  to  tlie  rolling  stock.  This  loan  lias  been  now  nearly  ex- 
pended in  tiiese  important  objects,  nuich  to  the  improvement  of  the 
road,  thus  increasing  its  capital  to  $26,000,000. 

The  Northwestern  Virginia  Railway,  forming  an  important  branch 
of  tbe  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  has  cost  $5,000,000  more,  which,  further 
added,  swells  the  total  pijesext  capital  of  this  great  corporation  to 
the  full  sum  of  $31,000,000. 

It  may  be  remarked  here  as  an  extraordinary  fact,  that  the  assessed 
value  of  all  tlie  real  estate  in  Baltimore  at  tlie  period  of  the  com- 
mciiceiiK-iit  of  tlie  road  in  1827,  was  but  $27,000,000,  or  $4,000,000 
loss   than   has   been   absorl>ed  in  tliis  groat   work,  a  result  which,  al- 


68  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

though  but  little  dreamed  of  by  its  sagacious  projector,  Philip  E. 
Thomas,  who  still  survives, — in  no  degree  detracts  from  the  wisdom 
and  foresight  that  guided  him  and  his  public-spirited  coadjutors. 


Extent  and  General  Characteristics  of  the  Road. 


Miles, 


Length  of  main  line  of  road  between  original  termini,  say  Bal- 
timore to  AVheeling 379 

Length  of  Wasliington  Branch,  from  Washington  Junction  (nine 

miles  from  Baltimore)  to  Wasliington  City  ...       30 

Length  of  brancli  road  from  Mount  Clare  Junction  to  Locust 

Point  Shipping  Station,  at  Baltimore 3 

Length  of  branch  road  from  Monocacy  Station,  on  the  Main 

Stem,  to  Frederick  City 3 

Length  of  the  Nortliwostern  Virginia  Road,  from  Grafton  on 
the  Main  Stem  (279  miles  from  Baltimore)  to  Parkersburg, 
on  the  Ohio  River 104 


Total  length  of  first  track 519 

Length  of  second  track  (including  196  sidings)  on  the  Main 

Stem 212 

Second  track  in  sidings  upon  the  Washington  Branch        .         .  7 

Second  track  in  sidings  upon  the  Northwestern  Virginia  Road,  7 


Total  present  length  of  track  owned  <ind  worked  by  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad  Company      .....     745 

To  this  may  be  added  the  follov/ing  local  and  exclusive  tribu- 
taries— 

Winchester  and  Potomac  Railway  from  Harper's  Ferry  on  the 

Main  Stem,  to  Winchester,  Va. 32 

The  several  lateral  roads  traversing  the  coal  regions,  and  uniting 

with  the  Main  Stem  at  Cumberland  and  Piedmont     .         .       45 


Total  length  of  road 822 

Heaviest  pernuincnt  grade  per  )nile         ....  116  feet. 

Heaviest  teini)ora!-y  grade,  worked  with  locomotive    .  .     520     " 
Longest  continuous  grade,  (f -om  Piedmont  to  Altamont,)  .      17  miles. 

Greatest  altitude  of  road-bed  above  tide-water  .        .  2,260  feet. 

Weight  of  rail  per  lineal  yard,  on  main  and  second  track  55  to  85  lbs. 

Number  of  locomotive  engine  houses  and  shops         .  .                57 

Aggregate  nunilier  of  stalls  for  locomotive  engines         .  .          230 


EXTENT   AND  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  1!.  AND  O.  RAILROAD.      09 

Nnmber  of  machinery  and  car  repair  stations         ...  12 

Number  of  repair  shops 33 

Number  of  water  stations,  (on  the  Main  Stem,  73 ;  on  the  North- 
western Virginia  Road,  11 ;  on  tlie  Wasliiugton  Brand),  4,)       94 

Number  of  telegraph  stations 30 

Number  of  freight  and  passenger  stations,  (Main  Stem,  G2 ; 

"Washington  Branch,  8;  Northwestern  Virginia  Road,  15,)        85 
Number  of  tunnels  between  Baltimore  and  Wheeling         .         .       14 

Total  length  of  tunnelling 12,G94  feet. 

Lengtli  of  tunnelling  solidly  arched  with  stone,  iron,  or 

brick,  (the  remainder  now  being  rapidly  finished,)  9,000 

Number  of  bridges  between  Baltimore  and  Wheeling  .         .180 

Total  length  of  bridging 15,088  feet. 

Length  of  new  iron  railroad  bridges  completed,  mostly 

with  double  track 3,710     " 

Length  of  stone  bridges  completed  ....  5,240  " 
Length  of  wooden  bridges  comjjleted  .  .  .  4,038  " 
Number  of  tons  of  freight  hauled  in  1857  .  .  .  .  895,401 
Number  of  tons  of  freight  hauled  one  mile  in  1857  .  202,852,401 
Number  of  officers  and  employees 4,900 


THE 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF    1857. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  NORTHWESTERN  VIRGINIA  RAILROAD. 

This  road  is  practically  a  branch  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Kailroad, 
forming,  as  it  does,  the  direct  connection  with  the  short  lines  to  Cin- 
cinnati and  St.  Louis.  ]!^ay  n:iore,  it  covers  the  preci.';e  ground  by 
which  the  main  track  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Eoad  wonld  have 
approached  the  Ohio  river  years  ago,  except  for  the  unwise  and 
unreasonable  legislation  already  related,  which  forced  tlie  Company  to 
make  Wheeling  its  western  terminus.  To-day  it  assumes,  in  effect, 
for  the  lower  or  central  West,  the  position  of  the  main  road  from 
Baltimore  to  the  Ohio,  and  it  is  appropriate,  therefore,  that  its  history 
phould  follow  next  in  order  in  these  pages. 

When  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Raih-oad  was  near  completion,  or 
so  far  advanced  that  its  successful  operation  at  an  eai-ly  day  was  no 
longer  matter  of  mere  speculation,  it  became  evident  that  some  means 
must  be  contrived  by  which  a  connection  with  the  Ohio  could  be 
obtained  at  a  point  far  below  Wheeling,  and  somewhere  in  the  direct 
line  between  Baltimore  and  Cincinnati.  In  other  words,  Virginia 
herself  saw  that  the  legislation  which  had  refused  permission  to  that 
Company  to  pass  over  her  territory,  except  on  condition  that  the  city 
of  Wheeling  should  be  made  its  western  terminns,  and  so  be  made  the 
point  of  junction  of  the  railroads  approaching  the  Ohio  from  the  east 
and  the  west — was  unwise,  and  exceedingly  injurious  to  the  mutual 
interests  of  the  State  and  of  the  Railroad  Company.  It  was  deter- 
mined, therefore,  to  permit  that  now,  which  for  many  years  had  been 
so  injudiciously  refused.  A  charter  authorizing  the  construction  of  a 
railroad  from  the  Ohio  river  at  Parkersburg  to  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad  at  the  moutli  of  Tliroe  Fork  Creek,  now  (irafton,  was 


NECESSITY    OF    THE    N.  W.  V.    K.  H. ITS    ORGANIZATION.  7l 

granted  by  the  legislature  of  Virginia  on  the  l-tth  of  February,  1851, 
and  on  the  2d  of  August  following,  the  necessary  amount  of  stock 
having  been  subscribed,  princii)ally  by  residents  of  Parkersburg  and 
its  vicinity,  the  Company  was  duly  organized  by  the  election  of  James 
Cook,  President,  and  George  Neale,  Jr.,  Jetierson  Gibbeus,  Jonathan 
M.  Bennett,  ^Villiam  Logan,  and  Joseph  Spencer,  Directors.  iVt  the 
iirst  meeting  of  ihe  Board,  Benjamin  II.  Latrobe  was  appointed  chief 
engineer,  and  was  directed  to  proceed  immediately  to  survey  a  route 
for  the  proposed  road,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  which  ten  per  cent, 
of  the  stock  subscribed  was  called  in  and  mostly  paid  before  the  close 
of  that  year.  At  the  first  annual  meeting,  additional  stock  having 
been  subscribed  at  I5altiinore,  Thomas  Swann  was  elected  president, 
and  George  Brown,  Jolin  Hopkins,  Columbus  O'Donnell,  William 
McKim,  Charles  M.  Keyser,  Tliomas  C.  Jenkins  and  Benjamin  DeFord, 
of  Baltimore,  and  James  Cook,  Jol)n  li.  Murdoch,  and  George  Neale, 
of  Parkersburg,  directors ;  all  of  whom,  with  a  single  exception  noticed 
below,  have  continued  to  manage  the  atfairs  of  the  Company  till  this 
time. 

The  road  having  been  located,  and  contracts  for  its  construction 
advertised  for  under  the  first  Board,  their  successors  immediately  pro- 
ceeded to  open  the  bids  and  assign  the  contracts.  The  construction 
was  commenced  late  in  December,  1852,  and  was  prosecuted  as  vigor- 
ously as  the  finances  of  the  Company  would  permit;  no  suspension  of 
the  work  having  been  permitted  at  any  time,  notwithstanding  several 
severe  depressions  in  money  affuu-s.  causing  the  stoppage  of  many 
similar  enterprises.  The  principal  portion  of  the  means  used  by  tl.o 
Company  has  been  derived  from  the  guarantee  of  their  bonds,  to  the 
amount  of  $1,500,000  each,  by  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  Balti- 
more and  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company.  Without  their 
promised  aid  the  enterprise  would  not  liave  been  undertaken. 

By  an  economical  management  of  these  resources,  and  an  addi- 
tional issue  of  the  Company's  bonds  without  guarantee,  the  Board 
have  been  able  to  meet  a  cash  expenditure  for  construction,  averaging, 
during  a  great  part  of  the  time,  over  one  hundred  thousand  dollars 
per  month,  with  entire  promptness  and  without  extraordinary'  sacri- 
fices ;  and  to  lay  the  last  rail  at  the  expiration  of  four  years  from  the 
commenceujcnt  of  the  construction.  They  had  also  provided  rolling 
stock  suitable  for  the  opening  of  the  road,  on  such  terms  as  they  hoped 
would  enable  them  to  meet  the  payments  from  the  earnings  of  the 
work;  hut  ic  being  evident  that  additional  equipment  would  soon  be 
needed,  and   a   oonsidorable  sum  being  still   required  to  prepare  the 


'72  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

road  for  a  heavy  business,  it  became  manifest  that  tlie  net  earnings 
could  not,  for  some  time,  be  expected  to  meet  these  new  expenditures 
in  addition  to  the  regularly  recurring  serai-annual  interest.  These  and 
other  considerations,  hereafter  mentioned,  led  to  the  transfer  of  tlie 
working  and  management  of  the  road  to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
liailroad  Company,  under  an  agreement  which  is  farther  noticed  in 
another  place.  Under  the  management  of  that  Company  the  road  was 
tirst  fully  opened  for  trade  and  travel  throughout  its  whole  length  on 
the  1st  of  May,  1857. 

As  tlje  result  of  a  policy  established  at  the  beginning  of  the  work, 
and  steadily  adhered  to,  the  road  has  been  located  through  the  spurs 
of  the  Alleghanies  covering  Northwestern  Virginia,  on  a  line  varying 
very  little  from  its  true  direction,  and  yet  with  grades  having  a  max- 
imum of  less  than  fifty-three  feet  to  the  mile,  and  with  curves  of  never 
less  than  one  thousand  feet  radius ;  thus  presenting  no  material  ob- 
struction to  the  rapid  passage  of  trains  with  ordinary  loads,  dispensing 
entirely  with  assistant  power,  and  not  requiring  the  same  expenditure 
for  repairs  as  roads  of  a  diflferent  character.  Two  severe  winters,  and 
the  subsequent  thaws,  have  proved  that  the  location  is  comparatively 
free  from  the  danger  of  slides  and  slips,  and  that  the  drainage  is  suffi- 
cient to  prevent  any  unusual  settling  of  the  road-bed.  The  masonry 
and  superstructures  of  the  bridges  are  permanent  and  substantial,  and 
the  tunnels  well  secured.  It  is  the  first  road  uniting  all  these  advan- 
tages that  has  been  constructed  through  a  country  presenting  similar 
features ;  and  there  are  few  anywhere  which,  when  first  opened  to 
the  public,  were  equally  complete.  The  result  is,  that  it  is  expected  to 
require  less  than  usual  repairs  for  many  years,  and  its  working  ex- 
penses on  a  good  business  will  probably  be  less  than  those  of  any  other 
road  in  use  between  the  East  and  West.  In  short,  as  intended  by  its 
projectors,  it  is  admirably  adapted  to  facilitate  the  immense  tonnage 
business  which  will  be  thrown  upon  it  in  future. 

In  defining  the  line  of  the  road,  great  care  was  taken  to  secure  the 
best  route.  The  country  between  Grafton  and  Parkersburg  is  of  very 
irregular  topography,  and  presented  many  practicable  lines,  all  of 
which  Avere  examined,  and  the  present  one  adopted,  after  numerous 
and  carefully  compared  surveys.  The  original  idea  as  to  the  length 
of  the  line  was  that  it  would  not  fall  short  of  115  miles,  the  leading 
valleys  being  looked  to  as  probably  affording  the  only  suitable  route. 
The  preliminary  surveys  however  showed  that  a  line  of  110  miles 
could  be  had,  and  the  estimates  of  cost  were  made  upon  that  line. 
Subsequently,  in  locating  the  route  for  construction  it  was  reduced  to 


CIIAKACTERISTIC'S    OF    THE    N.  W.    VIRGINIA    ROAD.  73 

103|  miles,  or  some  two  miles  sliorter  than  the  turnpike  between  the 
same  points.  This  reduction  was  not  accomplished  without  a  consid- 
erable increase  of  cost,  judiciously  submitted  to,  however,  for  the  sake 
of  the  resulting  advantages. 

The  line  lias  l)cen  located  with  maximum  grades  of  1  foot  in  100, 
or  52y,Y  per  mile,  and  curves  of  radii  not  less  tlian  1,000  feet.  To  ob- 
tain these  moderate  grades  and  easy  curves  upon  such  ground,  heavy 
work  lias  been  necessary.  The  prominent  feature  of  tlie  location  is 
the  tunnels  (of  which  there  are  23 — the  longest  2,700  feet,  the  short- 
est 150  feet),  made  necessary  by  the  height  and  steepness  of  most  of 
the  ridges  at  the  summits,  and  the  abrupt  windings  of  the  larger  val- 
leys. There  are,  however,  but  two  high  embankments,  and  one  long, 
deep  cutting,  and  only  three  bridges  of  a  span  over  125  feet  There 
are  one  permanent  and  two  temporary  trestle  works  of 'limited  height 
and  length.  The  longest  grade  is  less  than  four  miles,  and  the  ascents 
and  descents  alternate,  so  as  to  afford  frequent  relief  to  the  locomotive 
engines  in  their  draft.  The  general  descent  of  the  line  is  westward, 
the  height  of  Grafton  above  tide  being  1,008  feet,  and  Parkersbnrg 
523.  This  will  favor  the  coal  trade  towards  the  Ohio,  Avhich  must  be- 
come large.  Upon  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Eailroad  between  Grafton 
and  Wheeling — 100  miles — the  maximum  grade  is  79/^,  and  short- 
est radius  of  curvature  GOO  feet.  Tlie  character  of  the  two  routes 
is  dili'orent,  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  pursuing  the  main  val- 
leys except  at  two  points,  to  which  its  high  grades  and  heavy  work 
are  chicHy  ci)nfmed :  the  North-western  Virginia  Railroad  occupying 
mostly  the  minor  vrdleys  with  more  frequent  undulations  of  grade,  and 
a  more  general  distribution  of  its  bolder  features.  It  may  become  the 
better  line  for  quick  passenger  travel  besides,  tlie  more  economical  for 
freight — and  hence,  though  actually  four  miles  longer  than  to  Wheel 
ing,  and  eight  miles  longer  than  to  the  Benwood  Junction,  it  mnj-  be 
virtually  the  shorter  arm. 

The  North-western  Virginia  Railroad  having  been  undertaken  and 
com|)leted  with  a  special  view  to  the  accommodation  of  that  descrip- 
tion of  business,  now  offers  to  the  bulkj'  products  of  the  West,  tlie  most 
expeditious  route  tu  the  seaboard,  united  with  the  shortest  land  trans- 
portation. It  h.as  been  already  demonstrated  that  these  products,  when 
keeinng  tlie  river  to  Parkersbnrg,  can  bo  delivered  at  Baltimore  in  at 
least  two  days  less  time,  and  at  cheaper  rates  than  at  any  other  eastern 
port.  This  fact  alone  is  sufiicient  to  ensure  to  the  North-western  Vir- 
ginia and  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroads  the  command  of  any  desirable 
amount  of  Western  lousiness,  and  while  giving  to  Paikersl)iirg  a  com- 
4 


74  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

rnercial  importance  which  could  not  otherwise  be  attained,  to  enlianco 
that  of  Baltimore,  until  it  becomes  the  first  sliipping  mart  in  the  Union 
for  Western  productions.  Tiiere  can  be  no  permanent  rival  of  a  route 
which  combines  both  cheapness  and  expedition.  Unusual  facilities 
for  lading  and  unlading  are  provided  at  Parkersburg  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  river  trade. 

Tiie  simultaneous  opening  of  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  and  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroads  affords  the  additional  advantage  of  a 
railroad  connection  with  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis.  Tlie  forjner  having, 
through  local  influence,  been  diverted  from  its  original  terminus  at 
Belpre,  opposite  Parkersburg,  without  the  construction  of  the  branch 
to  that  point  promised  Avhen  the  diversion  was  effected,  the  effect  is 
to  unnecessaril}'  impair  and  lengthen  the  route.  The  interests  of 
both  roads  strongly  demand  a  closer  and  more  available  connection, 
either  by  a  line  from  Scott's  Landing  to  Belpre,  eiglit  miles,  or  from 
Vincent's  some  twelve  miles,  the  latter  being  preferable,  but  the  least 
practicable.  The  construction  of  the  proposed  Hocking  Valley  Rail- 
road to  a  point  on  the  Marietta  line,  twenty-eight  miles  from  Parkers- 
burg, and  thirty-two  from  Marietta,  over  a  superior  route,  promises 
to  obviate  the  disadvantage,  and  if  continued  to  tlie  Cincinnati,  Wil- 
mington and  Zanesvdle  Railroad  at  Lancaster,  would  furnish  an  en- 
tirely independent  line,  offering  some  peculiar  advantages.  But  even 
with  the  present  connection,  the  railroad  route,  of  Avhich  tlie  North- 
western Virginia  road  is  part,  is  fifty-two  nffles  shorter  than  any  other 
between  tide-water  and  Cincinnati. 

As  the  Xorth-western  Virginia  road  approaolied  completion,  it  be- 
came necessary  for  the  Board  to  arrange  witli  tlie  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Company, — of  whose  road  tlieir  own  is  practically  a  western  extension, 
— for  the  transfer  from  one  to  the  other  of  mercliandise  and  passengers 
without  change  of  cars  or  avoidable  delay.  The  fact  that  the  rolling 
stock  employed  in  the  tlirougli  business  must  pass  over  nearly  three 
miles  of  the  former  to  one  of  tlie  latter,  and  the  Avant  of  a  sufficient 
equipment  on  the  part  of  tiiis  company,  rendered  it  imperative  that  the 
Baltimore  and  Oliio  Railroad  Company  should  furnish  the  cars  and  a 
portion  of  the  locomotives  for  the  tlirougli  tonnage  business.  Difficul- 
ties were  experienced  in  properly  adjusting  the  ju-oportions  of  revenue 
and  expenses  of  tlie  respective  companies,  wliich,  with  many  similar 
considerations,  led  to  the  conclusion  that,  for  the  present  at  least,  the 
working  of  the  two  roads  in  connection  could  only  be  made  available 
by  being  under  one  management.  The  result  was,  that  by  an  agree- 
ment mutually  entered  into  on  tlie  27th  of  December,  1850,  the  Haiti- 


CONTRACT    WITH    THE    BALTIMORE    AND    OHIO    ROAD.  75 

more  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company  contracted  to  work  the  North- 
western Virginia  Raih'oad,  witii  their  own  rolling  stock,  for  the  period 
of  five  years,  reserving  to  themselves,  in  consequence  of  the  dispro- 
portioned  expenditure  required  of  them  at  the  beginning,  the  exclusive 
option  to  renew  the  contract  for  the  like  period  on  the  same  terms. 

The  contract,  in  fact,  looks  to  the  mergence  of  the  North-western 
Virginia  in  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  with  the  con- 
sent of  the  stockholders  of  each,  on  terms  mutually  advantageous,  if  the 
necessary  legislation  can  be  obtained.  The  provisions  of  that  instrument 
should  therefore  be  judged  with  reference  to  this  expectation,  as  the 
object  of  both  parties  was  to  realize  at  once,  as  far  as  practicable,  all 
the  benefits  anticipated  from  a  consolidation.  Should  that  consum- 
mation be  effected,  the  surviving  company  will  become  the  owners  of 
all  the  property  and  franchises,  and  assume  all  tlie  existing  liabilities  of 
the  other,  and  will  issue  their  stock  in  redemption  of  the  stock  of 
the  latter,  dollar  for  dollar. 

It  was  imperative,  under  the  circumstances,  that  funds  should  be 
provided  to  discharge  the  floating  debt  of  the  coinpanj-,  due  princi- 
pally to  contractors  and  those  wlio  had  furnished  materials  used  in 
the  construction  of  the  road,  and  that  the  interest  on  the  bond  debt 
should  be  promptly  paid  as  it  accrued,  in  order  to  sustain  the  market 
value  of  the  bonds  which  remained  to  be  sold  for  its  account,  or  were 
held  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Company  as  a  security  for  their  ad- 
vances. It  was  expected  that  the  floating  debt  would  be  met  by  the 
use  of  the  remaining  resources  of  the  company,  consisting  principally, 
besides  the  unsold  bonds  which  were  specificall}'  appropriated,  of  the 
uncoUected  stock,  the  surplus  real  estate,  and  tiie  rolling  stock  and  other 
implements  and  property  ap[)licable  to  the  future  purposes  of  the  road, 
which  had  been  necessarily  accumulated  during  the  construction.  The 
latter  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Comi)any  agreed  to  purchase, 
as  well  as  the  Grafton  station,  with  its  buildings,  machinery,  &c., 
which  had  been  acquired'and  arranged  with  a  view  to  the  use  which 
must  necessarily  be  made  of  it  by  that  company  for  their  exclusive 
purposes,  and  to  fiicilitate  their  connection  with  the  North-western 
Virginia  Railroad. 

The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company  also  undertook  to  pay 
the  interest  on  the  deferred  debt  of  the  company  as  it  accrued,  the 
latter — beyond  the  small  sum  necessary  to  maintain  its  organization — 
receiving  nothing  from  the  earnings  of  the  road  until  forty  per  cent. 
of  the  gross  amount  is  sufficient  to  cover  the  interest  on  their  whole 
debt,  leaving  sixty  per  cent,  to  defray  the  cost  of  repairs  and  working 


70  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

expenses,  and  to  compensate  for  the  use  of  the  capital  and  macliineiy 
to  be  employed  in  working  the  road — a  proportion  whicli  it  was 
thought  by  the  North-western  Virginia  Company  would  prove  to  be  a 
liberal  allowance,  long  before  the  gross  earnings  should  reach  their  pro- 
bable maximum ;  because  a  new  road  would  need  less  repairs  for  seve- 
ral years  after  its  completion  than  one  which  has  been  longer  in  use. 

"When  the  forty  per  cent,  exceeds  the  annual  interest  and  cost  of 
maintaining  the  company,  the  excess,  to  the  amount  of  $25,000  per 
annum,  after  the  first  year,  is  to  be  credited  upon  the  company's  debt. 
Any  farther  excess,  not  exceeding  six  per  cent,  of  their  capital  stock, 
is  to  be  paid  over  to  this  company,  and  if  there  is  still  a  surplus,  it  is 
also  to  be  applied  in  reduction  of  the  same  debt. 

The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company  besides  agreed  to  as- 
sume the  contracts  made  by  the  North-western  Virginia  Company  for 
Locomotives,  Cars,  &c.,  taking  and  holding  the  same  as  their  own. 

These  are  the  leading  features  of  the  contract,  Avhich,  to  prevent 
misconception,  it  may  be  as  well  to  state  is  not  technically  a  lease,  as 
only  the  right  to  use  the  road  and  its  appurtenances  is  transferred,  the 
legal  possession  remaining  "with  the  latter  company.  It  was  entered 
into  under  a  provision  of  the  railroad  law  of  Virginia,  and  made  part 
of  the  charter,  which  expressly  alloAvs  the  company  to  work  their  road 
either  by  their  own  officers  and  agents  or  by  contractors. 

The  management  of  the  road  was  assumed  by  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad  Company  ou  the  first  of  February,  1857,  since  when  they 
have  expended  a  large  sum  of  money  in  completing  and  perfecting  the 
track  aud  other  portions  of  tlie  construction.  On  account  of  the  char- 
acter of  the  work  remaining  to  be  done,  it  was  not  deemed  prudent 
by  those  in  charge  to  open  the  road  at  that  period  of  the  year,  although 
trains  were  carefully  run  for  local  accommodation. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  company  on  the  30th  April,  1857,  is 
clearly  set  fortlt  in  the  statements  of  its  secretary,  accompanying  the 
last  Annual  Report  of  tlie  President  and  Directors,  from  wliich  it  will 
be  seen,  that  besides  the  bond  debt,  tlie  amount  due  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad  Company,  Avhich,  Avith  reference  to  present  resources, 
may  be  considered  as  deferred  for  at  least  five  years,  and  the  debis  to 
the  discharge  of  which  the  bonds  on  hand  are  specifically  appropriated, 
the  liabilities  of  the  company  consist  of  the  comparatively  small  sums 
due  the  City  of  Baltimore  and  certain  citizens  of  Parkersburg,  and 
what  has  been  above  termed  tlie  floating  debt. 

It  is  hoped,  if  the  business  of  the  road  justifies  the  reasonable  ex- 
pectations of  its  friends,  that  the  sales  of  bonds,  of  surplus  real  estate, 


THE    FINAKCES COST    OF    THE    N.    W.    VIKGIXIA    ROAD.  77 

and  of  the  stock  which  may  be  forfeited  for  non-payment,  -will  be  at 
such  prices  as  to  insure  the  extinction  of  tlie  entire  unfunded  debt,  in- 
cluding the  late  temporary  advances  by  the  Baltimore  and  Oliio  Eail- 
road  Company. 

The  accounts  -with  that  company,  involving  the  valuation  of  some 
of  the  property  transferred  and  of  the  work  remaining  to  be  done  by 
this  company  at  the  time  the  road  was  transferred,  could  not  be  adjust- 
ed by  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year,  and  still  remain  open. 

If  the  debt  to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company  and 
others,  after  the  resources  referred  to  are  exhausted,  be  estimated  at 
$828,000,  which  it  did  not  probably  exceed,  the  whole  debt  of  the 
company  at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  of  1857,  was  as  follows  : 

Bonds  guaranteed  by  city  of  Baltimore $1,500,000 

"  '=  B.  &  0,  R.  R.  Co 1,500,000 

"      not  guaranteed,  exclusive  of  $500,000  deposited  as 

above 1,000,000 

Contractor's  Advance  Bonds 42,000 

Add  above  estimate  of  debt  not  funded 828,000 

Total $4,870,000 

If  to  this,  the  stock  collected  and  to  be  collected  is  added,  it  gives  in 
round  numbers  $5,400,000,  as  the  cost  of  the  road,  including  interest 
and  discount  on  bonds,  and  exclusive  of  any  sums  ■which  may  be  ex- 
pended under  the  agreement  by  the  company  in  charge,  Avhich,  if  made 
by  this  company,  would  be  prc>perly  chargeable  to  construction. 

The  annual  interest  on  the  bonded  debt,  to  be  paid  by  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  as  part  consideration  for  the  use  of 
the  road,  will  be  $242,520 ;  a  sum  there  can  be  no  doubt  tlie  net  earn- 
ings will  cover  after  the  business  connections  of  the  road  are  finally 
developed. 

During  the  actual  progress  of  the  work  there  was  but  one  change 
in  the  Board.  In  November,  1856,  Thomas  C.  Jenkins  tendered  his 
resignation  as  a  Director,  which  was  reluctantly  accepted  ;  and  on  the 
9tli  February  following,  Thomas  Sv,-anu  resigned  the  Presidency  after 
four  years  of  active  service  in  that  capacity,  and  was  immediately 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  direction.  P.  G.  Van  Winkle,  who 
had  been  its  Secretary  from  the  organization  of  the  company,  was 
electecl  President,  and  John  L.  Crawford  was  appointed  Secretary. 

A  word  is  due  in  commemoration  of  the  efficiency  and  ability  of  the 
gentlemen  more  immediately  engaged  in  the  construction  of  this  work. 


78  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

To  the  Chief  Engineer,  Benjamin  H.  Latrobe,  and  his  principal  assist- 
ants, George  Ilolfinan,  J.  C.  C.  Iloskins  and  Albert  Fink,  too  much 
praise  cannot  be  awarded  for  tlie  skill  and  energy  they  have  displayed. 
Their  industry  and  integrity  are  manifested  by  the  fact,  that  the  large 
number  of  contractors  and  employes  under  their  direction  have  been 
settled  with  without  dispute  except  in  five  cases  only,  of  whom  but 
three  have  resorted  to  the  courts,  where  one  judgment  has  already  been 
given  in  favor  of  the  company.  Of  the  Chief  Engineer,  whose  repu- 
tation for  professional  skill  and  scientific  acquirements  is  national,  it  is 
suflicient  to  say  that  he  has  added  to  his  fame  by  the  location  and  con- 
struction of  the  Xorth-western  Virginia  Railroad.  Less  grand  in  its 
features  than  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  it  pursues  its  direct 
and  almost  level  way  tlirough  a  country  nearly  as  difficult,  costing  rela- 
tively less  than  that  splendid  Avork,  and  presenting  many  facilities  for 
the  rapid  transmission  of  i)assengers  and  tounago. 


THE 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF   1857. 


CHAPTER    VIII 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MARIETTxV  AND  CINCINNATI  EAILKOAD, 

It  is  remarkable  to  observe  the  extraordinary  facility  witli  which 
"we  American!;,"  especially  Western  xYiuericans,  adapt  ourselves  to  new 
and  opposite  circumstances.  But  the  other  day,  the  Railroad  Revolu- 
tion was  worked  over  the  face  of  the  country  between  Baltimore  and 
St.  Louis,  and,  here  Ave  are,  pop\ilation  both  rural  and  civic,  with  habits 
set  and  "  coulters  fixed"  to  the  conditions  of  tlie  waw  regime.  The 
same  number  of  the  Aveekly  journal,  in  the  interior  of  the  State  of 
Oliio,  which  editorially  described  the  first  organization  of  the  company 
under  whose  auspices  the  Makietta  and  Cincixxati  Raii.eoad  was 
constructed,  contained  also  the  following  notices: 

"The  electric  telegraph  commenced  working  between  New  York  and  Cin- 
cinnati on  Friday  last.  The  New  York  market  prices  of  Friday  afternoon  ap- 
peared in  the  Cincinnati  papers  of  Saturday  ^Morning."' 

"In   twenty  years,  or  less,   there  will  be   a  railway  from  St.  Louis  to 

Cliicago  ;  anotlier  from  St.  Louis  to  Toledo ;  another  from  St.  Louis  to  Phil- 
adelphia, via  Indianapolis,  Dayton,  Springfield,  Columbus  and  Pittsburg.  Now, 
when  these  works,  or  the  last  named  only  shall  be  finished,  how  much  of  the 
trade  and  travel  from  the  West  will  pass  through  Cincinnati,  by  leaving  the 
Jliami  at  Indianapolis  ?  Cincinnati  ought  to  run  her  road  down  to  North 
Bend,  on  the  Ohio  River,  and  then  strike  across  Southern  Indiana,  intersecting 
tlie  Indianapolis  and  Madison  Road,  crossing  the  Wabash,  and  reach  St.  Louis 
as  nearly  as  possible  in  an  air  line.^' — [Vide  Chillicothe  Gazette,  of  August  24, 
1847.] 

The  above  was  written  but  little  more  than  a  half-score  years  ago, 
but  it  requires  already  a  pretty  vivid  imagination  to  recall  tilings  as 
they  were.  Now,  there  are  some  25,000  miles  of  electric  telegrajdi  in 
communication  with  Cincinnati ; — the  "  air-line  road,"  whose  con- 
struction was  so  positively  commended  by  the  Ohio  editor, — then,  only 


80  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILItOAD    OPENING. 

a  "  paper  project  " — Las  become  a  Avorking  entity ;  the  cars  are  hourly 
careeruig  over  wide  prairies,  wliich  stretcli  out  between  St.  Louis  and 
Chicago,  and  the  traveller  who  is  more  than  twenty-four  hours  in  pass- 
ing from  the  Monumental  to  the  Queen  C.'ity,  either  via  Parkersburg 
and  Chillicothe,  or  Benwood  and  Columbus,  impatiently  deprecates  the 
"  slow  train,"  and  frets  for  fear  he  will  "  miss  the  connections."  Who 
dare  say  this  is  not  tJie  age  of  progress,  when  elements  swifter  than  the 
fubled  Pegasus,  and  stronger  than  Hercules,  are  harnessed  to  the  train, 
and  the  lightnings  of  heaven  are  converted  from  messengers  of  wrath, 
to  ministering  spirits  of  commerce  and  civilization. 

The  Ohio  belt  of  the  "American  Centeal  Kailway"  is  two  hun- 
dred miles  long.  It  was  originally  projected  from  Loveland,  on  the 
Little  Miami  River — (whence,  to  Cincinnati,  a  site  for  a  railway  was  oc- 
cupied)— to  Belpre,  in  Ohio,  opposite  Parkersburg,  A'irginia,  or  to  Har- 
mar,  near  Marietta,  as  the  wisdom  of  the  Directors  might  determine. 
Both  the  proposed  eastern  termini  were  placed  on  a  parity,  by  tlie  lan- 
guage of  the  original  charter.  Subsequently  the  Ohio  legislature  char- 
tered the  Hillsborougli  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  Company,  with  the 
privilege  of  extending  their  line  into  Cincinnati; — whereupon  the 
friends  of  the  two  roads  coalesced  in  their  earlier  operations,  designing  to 
terminate  the  Hillsborough  and  Cincinnati  at  Chillicothe.  The  several 
companies  worked  in  harmony  until  "actual  surveys "  demonstrated 
that  there  Avere  rival  routes  presenting  competing  advantages.  The 
"  Marietta  "  was  located  six  miles  north  of  the  town  of  Hillsborough, 
and  secured,  among  her  franchises,  an  independent  entrance  into  the 
Queen  Citj',  and  a  right  to  extend  her  line  from  Harmar  to  Wheeling : 
the  "  Hillsborough,"  too,  became  more  ambitious  ;  aspired  to  the  con- 
struction of  a  through  line  to  Parkersburg,  on  her  own  account;  and 
dissolved  partnership  with,  and  bid  defiance  to  the  older  corporation. 
Hence,  a  protracted,  acrimonious  and  expensive  contest  arose,  between 
the  two  interests ;  which  was  finally  and  happily  concluded,  but  about 
three  years  since,  by  a  "contract  of  union"  between  them,  under 
•which  they  became  one  interest  of  two  nominal  corporations.  Before 
this  union  was  consummated,  the  Hillsborough  Company,  by  com- 
mendable perseverance,  hud  completed  their  line  from  Loveland  on 
the  Little  Miami,  to  the  beautiful  shire  town  of  Highland  County, 
Ohio,  whose  name  she  bears ; — and,  not  only  so,  hut  had  expended 
nearly  half  a  million  of  dollars,  in  the  grading  and  masonry  onward 
over  the  Scioto,  and  towards  the  Virginia  line.  By  the  terms  of  the 
marital  contract,  the  "Marietta"  is  bound  to  complete  the  other  road 
from    HilLborough  to    Jackson    Court-house,  Ohio,    and    thence   to 


ORIGIN'    OF    THE    MARIETTA    AND    CINCINNATI    RAILWAY.  8l 

iraindon,  thirty-one  miles  east  of  Cliillicothe,  on  the  present  finisljed 
line. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  feiuls  hetwcen  the  two  corporations,  and 
their  local  partisans, — like  the  dispute  between  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Kaih-oad  and  tlie  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal, — as  earnestly  and 
honestly  jjiirsued  as  they  might  have  been,  worked  at  least  two  years' 
delay  in  the  comi-letion  of  the  present  Avork.  The  "  war  "  extended 
into  the  great  terminal  cities  of  Baltimore  and  Cincinnati,  delaying  the 
proffer  of  material  .aid  by  the  latter  comrnnnity ;  and  so  far  pretermit- 
ting the  sanie  by  the  former,  that  the  projectors  of  the  Marietta  road 
never  summoned  the  temerity  to  appeal  to  Baltimore  for  a  dollar. 
They  have  built  their  road  "  to  old  Virginia's  shore,"  and  grasped  the 
somewhat  reluctant  hand  of  the  Xorth-icestern  Virginia,  wliile  send- 
ing forth  a  flag  of  truce  and  a  project  of  a  better  alliance,  amity  and 
common  interest  to  the  great  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  trusting  to  geo- 
grapliical  focts,  more  matured  facilities,  and  the  faithful  future  for  the 
verification  of  their  fondest  hopes.     But  we  anticipate : — 

The  Belpre  (now  Marietta)  and  Cincinnati  Eailroad  Company  was 
organized  at  Chillicotlie,  on  Wednesday,  the  J 8th  day  of  xVngust,  1847, 
by  tlie  Commissioners  named  in  the  Act  of  Incorporation.  The  fol- 
lowing gentlemen  composed  the  first  Board  of  Directors,  viz : — Felix 
Kenick,  "William  II.  Price,  John  Madeira,  "William  M.  Anderson,  John 
L.  Green  and  "William  Eos?,  of  Eoss  County;  John  Ballard,  A.  B. 
"Walker  and  David  Eichmond,  of  Athens  County ;  "William  P.  Cutler 
and  Noah  L.  "Wilson,  of  "Washington  County  ;  and  Allen  Trimble  and 
YVilliam  O.  Collins,  of  Highland  County.  The  Board  was  organized 
the  same  day,  by  electing  Mr.  Eenick  President,  Mr.  Eoss  Treasurer, 
and  Mr.  Seneca  W.  Ely  Secretary  of  the  Company. 

Of  the  above,  Mr.  President  Eenick,  a  pioneer  citizen  of  Oliio, 
l>ublic-spirited,  and  of  great  energy  and  i)ractical  intelligence,  was  ac- 
cidentally killed,  by  a  falling  tree,  as  he  was  passing  homeward,  in  his 
carriage,  from  a  meeting  of  the  Board.  Mr.  Price,  the  first  chief  engi- 
neer (as  well  as  a  director)  of  the  company,  removed  to  Illinois  some 
eight  years  ago,  where  he  is  living  a  "large  "  and  successful  farmer. 
Messrs.  Anderson  and  Green,  citizens  of  Cliillicothe,  served  but  brief 
tours  in  tlie  Board,  retiring  to  their  usual  professions.  Mr.  Eoss,  an 
old  merchant  and  highly-respected  citizen  of  Chillicothe,  acted  as 
treasurer  and  with  his  railway  compeers,  but  a  short  time  only.  ^Ir. 
Ballard,  wliile  journeying  in  the  service  of  the  road,  was  thrown  from 
his  buggy  into  an  excavation,  by  a  runaway  horse  and  crippled  for 
life.  Mr.  Eichmond  deceased,  after  less  than  a  twelve  months'  service. 
4* 


82  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

And  Messrs.  Trimble  and  Collins,  citizens  of  Hillsborough,  left  the 
Board  soon  after  the  organization  of  the  Hillsborough  Company. 
Messrs.  Madeira,  Walker,  Cutler,  and  Wilson,  are  all  of  the  above 
fourteen  who  continue  as  directors  of  tlie  Marietta  Corporation.  Mr. 
Ely,  the  original  secretary,  was  re-elected  to  that  onerous  and  honor- 
able post  on  nine  consecutive  annual  occasions,  and  resigned  it,  in 
September,  1856,  after  having  served  the  company  in  clerical  and  col- 
lateral positions,  with  marked  fidelity  and  intelligence. 

Allen  Latham,  Esq.,  of  Chillicothe,  was  the  immediate  successor  of 
Mr.  Eenick  in  the  presidential  office.  He  declined  a  re-election, 
when  the  company  decided  to  commence  active  construction  ;  and 
Mr.  Cutler  was  unanimously  chosen  to  the  place.  With  this  gentle- 
man it  was  emphatically  a  post  of  action.  Under  his  administration 
the  locations  and  most  of  the  lettings  of  the  line  were  made,  and  tlie 
fip.ancial  policy  of  the  company  was  inaugurated.  After  several  j-ears' 
arduous  service,  Mr.  C.'s  declining  liealth  admonished  him  to  resign  tlie 
presidency,  which  he  obtained  tlie  leave  of  his  colleagues  to  do,  only 
by  consenting  to  remain  in  the  Board.  Mr.  Noah  L.  Wilson,  of  Chilli- 
cothe, Avho  yet  serves  as  president  of  the  com[)any,  was  then  elected. 

When  chosen  president,  Mr.  W.  was  absent  in  Europe,  on  the 
business  of  the  company,  and  therefore  declined  accepting  until  his 
return.  In  the  interim,  William  S.  Nye,  Esq.,  of  Marietta,  officiated  as 
president  ^.i/'o  tem.^  and  was  elected  vice-president  on  Mr.  W.'s  return, 
and  full  acceptance  of  the  chairmansliip  of  the  company.  Upon  the 
latter  gentleman  has  devolved  a  large  share  of  very  arduous  service, 
which  he  has  performed  with  a  degree  of  industry  and  ability  seldom 
equalled. 

It  is  deemed  not  irrelevant,  in  a  popular  essay  like  this,  designed 
for  perusal  by  thousands  who  may  never  have  heard  of  the  above  in- 
dividuals, to  bring  forward  the  names  of  gentlemen  who,  by  their  per- 
severing, personal,  and  pecuniary  efforts  and  sacrifices,  after  originating, 
assisted  to  foster  one  of  the  boldest  and  most  important  railroad  enter- 
prises in  North  America.  What  Thomas,  Brown,  Patterson,  Swann, 
and  their  compeers  were  to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  were  Madeira, 
Mills,  Putnam,  Cutler,  Price,  Wilson,  Walker  and  others  to  tlie  Mari- 
etta and  Cincinnati  road.  The  maxim  of  the  ancient  school  inculcated 
that  "  it  is  graceful  and  sweet  to  die  for  one's  country."  May  it  not 
be  said  with  more  fidelity  to  true  sentiment,  that  those  who  devote 
their  best  eftbrts  in  projecting  and  fostering  great  public  improvements, 
contribute  far  more  to  tiie  ^itile  than  do  dying  soldiers,  if  they  do  not, 
haply,  participate  in  the  ihtlce? 


THE    OIUGIN'ATORS    OF    THE    MARIETTA    ROAD SUBSCRIPTION'S.         83 

After  the  organization  of  the  company,  the  magnitude  of  their 
l)n)ject,  and  its  certain  expense  in  comparison  with  any  combiiiation 
of  means  -whioli  appeared  patent  to  their  hands,  "gave  pause"  to  tlic 
l)rojectors  of  tlie  Marietta  road. 

Legishitive  acts  Avere  procured,  authorizing  tlie  counties,  towns,  and 
cities  on  the  proposed  route  to  subscribe  to  its  capital  stock.  At  that 
time  the  constitution  of  Oliio  did  not,  as  it  now  does,  forbid  municipal 
subscriptions  to  public  improvements;  and,  under  those  laws,  the  fol- 
lowing subscrii)tions  were  made,  viz. : — 

By  Ross  County  (on  the  Scioto\ §300,000 

"  Athens  Comity  (on  the  Hocking"), 200,000 

"  City  of  Chillicothe,  Ross  County, 50,000 

Afterwards  the  city  of  Cincinnati  divided  a  miUion  of  authorized 
subscription  among  several  roads,  bj'  bestowing  on  this  great 
projected  feeder  to  her  commerce  and  prosperity  the  loan  of  her 
credit,  redeemable  in  twenty  years,  to  the  amouut  of  .  .  150,000 
And,  under  the  stimulus  of  a  proposed  most  favorable  and  direct 
connection  with  the  South- West,  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  and  the  city  of  Wheeling  subscribed  their  stock  and 
bonds  to  the  Marietta  Company,  to  the  aggregate  sum  of  .  1,000,000 
111  addition,  when  it  became  evident  that  the  work  must  stop,  west 
of  Athens,  without  additional  means,  the  Harmar  terminus  was 
adopted — the  "  steady  determination  "  to  make  the  best  con- 
nection with  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road,  on  the  completion 
of  the  latter  to  the  Ohio  River,  dechired  ;  and  iu  consideration 
of  that  adoptiuit,  the  following  additional  subscriptions  were 
dedicated,  viz.  : — 

Bv  the  County  of  Washington, 200,000 

'"       Town  of  Marietta, 1,000,000 

"       Town  of  Harmar, 50,000 

Besides  the  above  two  millions  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  of  corpo- 
ration and  munici[ial  subscription,  the  large  amount  of  nearly  two 
millions  have  been  contributed  to  llie  capital  stock  of  the  road,  by  pri- 
vate jjarties. 

Tlic  bonded  debt,  on  the  line  and  franchises  of  the  company,  is  four 
millions  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  represented  by  a  first  and 
second  mortgage.  A  third  mortgage  exists,  secured  by  a  portion  of  its 
personal  property;  and  an  ifsue  of  "  income"  or  "domestic  bonds," 
amounting  witii  the  "third  mortgage"  to  a  million  and  a  half,  com- 
j)lete  the  means,  by  way  of  stock  and  debenture,  by  which  this  long 
and  expensive  line  of  road  has  been  finished  thus  far  and  furnished. 

It  is  furnished,  too,  with  a  profusion  of  Cars  and  Locomotives  that 
would  look  like  jn-odigality,  perhaps,  to  one  uninformed  as  to  the  real 
wants  of  this  great  connecting  line.  Some  fifty  of  the  latter,  com- 
prising several  of  the  heaviest  and  completest  machines  in  the  country, 


84  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

from  the  celebrated  works  of  Taunton,  Boston,  Lowell,  Patterson, 
Philadelphia,  and  Lancaster,  and  seven  hundred  of  the  former  are  al- 
ready in  comnussion. 

The  Marietta  Company  early  secured  the  services  of  Archibald 
Kennedy,  Esq.,  late  of  the  Vermont  Central  Road,  as  locating  engineer. 
His  fine  talents  in  this  regard  were  put  to  full  test,  among  the  moun- 
tains east  of  the  Scioto,  and  among  the  valleys  of  the  Minei'al  Region 
of  Southern  Ohio.  To  project  a  line  of  railway,  over  such  ground, 
with  maximum  gradients  of  52  feet  and  minimum  radii  of  2. GOO,  and 
with  making  only  eight  short  tunnels,  is  irrefragable  proof  of  engineer- 
ing perspicacity.  East  of  Athens,  the  very  difficult  country  penetrated, 
and  the  good  line  constructed,  at  once  tested  and  proved  the  eminent 
proficiencj'  of  the  present  chief  engineer,  Colonel  H.  C.  Moore. 

This  sketch,  however,  presents  but  little  room  for  personal  allusion. 
One  familiar  with  their  eftbrts  and  accomplishments  might  till  a  volume 
with  the  merits  and  operations,  in  connection  with  this  road,  of  "Wad- 
dle, Lovett,  Medbery  and  otliers,  in  the  engineering  department ;  of 
Gates,  Xye,  Smart,  and  their  colleagues,  in  the  working  Board  ;  and 
of  Cutler,  Wilson,  Madeira,  and  their  helpers,  in  the  financial  line. 
A  faithful  histoiy  of  the  construction  of  the  Marietta  road  would  pre- 
sent facts  and  relations  calculated  to  inspire  the  impartial  observer 
with  profound  admiration,  in  view  of  the  points  achieved  and  difficul- 
ties vanquished. 

That  these  eftbrts  were  not  bestowed  on  an  unworthy  ohject^  is 
made  plain  enough  by  a  glance  at  some  of  the  salient  peculiarities  of 
the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  line. 

First,  this  line  affords  the  most  direct  route  possible  between  Cin- 
cinnati and  eastern  tide-water  connections.  It  pursues  a  course  nearly 
latitudinal,  across  the  peninsula  of  Southern  Ohio,  whicli  is  made  by 
the  great  detour  to  the  south  and  north-west  of  "  La  Belle  Riviere." 
It  lies  three-fourths  of  a  degree  south  of  latitude  40°  north,  out  of  the 
reach  of  submergiug  snows,  Avhicli  are  so  destructive  and  embarrassing 
in  the  winter  season  on  lines  farther  northward.  It  therefore  pre- 
sents, beyond  the  possibility  of  successful  competition,  tlie  shortest, 
and — especially  when  its  connection  at  the  Ohio  shall  be  properly  com- 
pleted— best  line  between  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  and  the  "Western 
railroads  at  Cincinnati — an  important  consideration  with  the  travelling 
l)ublic. 

Second,  the  country  penetrated  bj-  this  road,  between  Cincinnati 
and  Raysville  (117  miie^.),  comprises  tlie  finest  agricultural  district  of 
the  Buckeye  State,  including  the  valleys  of  the  Little  Miami,  Paint 
and  Scioto  rivers,   renowned   for  their  fertility.     The  souiriquet  of 


TECULIARITIES    OF    THE    MARIETTA    AND    CINCIXXATI    RAILWAY.        85 

''  Garden  Cit}',"  bestowed  upon  Cliillicothe  by  a  niember  of  the  Balti- 
more press,  wlio  participated  in  the  July  excursion,  is  as  appropriate 
as  it  is  beautiful.  The  high  lands  between  tlie  Miami  and  Grecutield, 
consisting  mainly  of  limestone  soils  and  fossiliferous  debris,  comprise  as 
rich  a  wheat-growing  region  as  the  earth  atibrds ;  while  the  vegetable 
alluvion  of  the  lower  valleys  produces  Indian  corn,  and  its  quadrupedal 
congeners,  hogs  and  cattle,  in  great  abundance.  Nor  is  the  region 
east  of  Kaysville,  and  reaching  across  the  Hocking  Yalley  to  the 
Ohio  river,  without  valuable  agricultural  resources  and  productions. 

Thirds  it  is  well,  in  alluding  to  the  resources  of  the  Marietta  road, 
to  remark,  briefly,  on  the  connection  between  the  geology  of  any  given 
section  of  the  country  and  its  agricultural  capacity.  The  amount  of 
freights,  as  well  as  the  extent  of  travel,  which  will  fall  to  the  share  of 
a  railroad,  must  be  proportioned  to  the  fertility  of  the  country  which 
it  and  its  connections  traverse.  Sterile  countries,  destitute  also  of 
minerals,  can  atford  neither  traffic  nor  passengers  to  any  profitable  ex- 
tent. But  when  a  railroad  has  the  double  advantage  of  passing 
through  a  mineral  region  and  one  rich,  in  agricultural  productions,  its 
prospective  sources  of  supplies  give  assurances  of  profits  to  its  owners. 
Tlio  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road,  with  its  western  connections,  possesses 
these  advantages  in  an  eminent  degree.  The  investigations  are  not 
yet  completed,  in  the  mineral  country  along  the  Marietta  road,  though 
they  should  be  at  an  early  day.  In  the  agricultural  region  they  have 
been  carefully  made,  and  the  results  have  been  presented  in  the  scien- 
tific journals  of  the  West.  For  this  infonnation  the  public  is  indebted 
to  Prof.  David  Christy,  of  Cincinnati,  His  general  remarks  upon  the 
mineral  region,  Avhich  he  had  examined  throughout  Ohio,  show  that 
the  resources  of  the  road,  in  coal,  iron,  and  salt,  are  unlimited,  and 
suggest,  in  a  forcible  manner,  the  necessity  of  a  careful  geological  sur- 
vey of  the  whole  route. 

The  lowest  formation  in  Ohio,  geologically  speaking,  is  the  blue 
limestone  valley  of  the  Great  Miami  river,  near  Cincinnati.  This  is 
the  old  Silurian,  and,  in  its  natural  divisions,  Upper  and  Lower,  ex- 
tends Avestward  to  tbo  Wabash  river,  and  eastward  nearly  to  the 
Scioto.  The  Upper  Silurian  rocks,  on  both  the  eastern  and  western 
extensions,  are  of  a  buff  gray  color,  composing  what  Locke  and  Owen 
style  the  clijf  limestone,  on  account  of  the  precipitous  cliflfs  which  they 
form  along  the  streams  of  water  that  have  cut  their  channels  into 
the  strata.  AVherever  the  rocks  of  this  formation  have  sdpplied  the 
materials  of  soils,  great  fertility  usually  prevails.  At  the  crossings  of 
the  Rattlesnake  Fork  (Monroe)  and  Paint  Creek  (Greenfield)  are  ex- 


86  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

tensive  quai-ries  of  this  gray  stone,  for  lime-burning  and  paving,  or 
flagging  purposes.  At  GreeufielJ,  the  most  quarrying  lias  been  done. 
The  market  is  good  and  supply  unlimited. 

Both  to  the  eastward  and  westward,  the  UxJ'per  Silurian  rocks  are 
overlaid  by  the  Devonian  formation;  and  it,  in  turn,  by  the  carionif- 
erous^  including  inexhaustible  supplies  of  coal,  iron,  salt,  bnhr  mill- 
stone, fire-proof  fine-grained  sandstone,  spar  limestone  of  the  carbo- 
niferous series,  fire-brick  and  common  brick  cla}',  a  species  of  black 
marble,  and  other  minerals  of  lesser  note,  the  whole  country  abounding 
with  excellent  timber,  such  as  oak,  poplar,  beech,  etc.  But  on  these 
we  shall  not  enlarge  at  present ;  nor  is  it  desirable  to  do  so  until  a 
perfect  survey  of  the  railroads  shall  be  completed. 

The  line  of  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  railroad  crosses  the  out- 
crojis  of  the  several  geological  formations  nearly  at  right  angles,  and 
thus,  in  its  course  across  the  State  of  Ohio,  it  bisects  the  Silurian, 
Devonian,  and  Carboniferous  series,  so  that  the  road  miglit  well  serve 
as  the  base  of  a  correct  geological  survey.  Eising  from  the  blue  lime- 
stone rocks,  over  which  Cincinnati  is  built,  it  ascends  the  valley  of  the 
Little  Miami  i-iver  to  Loveland,  and  thence  surmounts  the  table-land 
between  that  river  and  the  Scioto,  where  it  penetrates  the  lower  strata 
of  the  Devonian,  in  the  black  state  of  the  latter  river.  Proceeding 
eastward,  from  the  fertile  "second  bottoms"  of  High  Bank,  the  road 
passes  tlirough  sundry  deep  cuttings,  beginning  at  Schooley's  Station, 
composed  of  thin  layers  of  clays,  slates,  and  sandstones,  with  ferrugi- 
nous admixtures,  strongly  significant  of  the  near  neighborhood  of 
mineral  deposit.  Between  Chillicothe  and  Salt  Creek  are  the  northerly 
fimbrations  of  the  Waverly  sandstone,  a  material  of  great  economic 
value.  Crossing  Salt  Creek,  14  miles  east  of  Chillicothe,  the  lowest 
stratum  of  the  coal-bearing  rocks  is  bisected,  near  Raysville  (20  miles), 
Avhere  a  thin  sundstone,  remarkably  rich  in  fossils,  is  found.  Between 
this  point  and  Byers's  (three  miles  further),  the  cuttings  are  made  in 
the  conglomerate  rock,  aiove  which  all  the  valuable  coal-seams  are  found. 

The  first  of  these  are  at  Ely's  Mines,  36  miles  east  of  Chillicothe. 
These  were  opened  two  years  since,  in  anticipation  of  the  opening  of 
the  road  to  that  point.  The  traveller  may  recognize  the  locality  by 
tlie  apparition  of  a  tall  trestlework  connecting  the  opposite  hill  with 
the  railroad.  The  elevations  in  the  vicinity  abound  in  iron  ore,  whence 
a  portion  of  the  supplies  for  the  Cincinnati  Furnace,  a  good  estab- 
lisiiment  25  miles  east  of  Chillicothe,  is  derived.  This  is  a  hot-blast 
charcoal  furnace,  yielding  4,000  tons  i)er  annum.  The  two  tunnels 
jubt  west  of  this  place — 300  and  400  feet — the  deep  rock  cuts,  the  Al- 


THE  LINE  OF  THE  MARIETTA  ROAU  EASTWARD  FROM  CUILLICOTIIE.  87 

pine  cliffs,  connected  by  strong  trestlework,  to  the  sides  of  wliicli  the 
road  clings,  siitliciently  attest  tlie  difficult  and  expensive  character  of 
the  work  in  this  neighborhood. 

Eastward  the  country  towards  Ilamden  becomes  less  mountainous. 
The  iiills  around  this  village  assume  a  Mamelon  shape,  those  south  and 
east  of  the  road  being  rich  in  coals,  ores,  and  their  accompanying  min- 
erals. 

IIamdex  Station  is  the  southern  point  of  junction  of  the  Scioto  and 
Hocking  Valley  Railroad,  which  terminates  at  Portsmouth,  on  the 
Ohio  river,  54  miles  distant.  It  is  designed  that  the  two  roads  con- 
tinue on  the  same  superstructure  to  McArtliur  Station,  4  miles  north- 
east, where  tlie  lines  separate,  the  Scioto  &  Hocking  Valley  going 
northward,  and  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  pursuing  its  northeast 
course.  Hamden  is  the  "port  of  entry"  of  the  Iron  A^illey,  Eagle 
and  Hamden  blast  furnaces. 

At  McArtliur  Station,  a  large  tract  of  coal  and  ore  land  has  been 
purchased,  with  the  view  of  general  improvement,  on  the  revival 
of  business.  Three  miles  north  is  the  town  of  McArthur,  1,000  in- 
habitants, the  seat  of  justice  of  Vinton  Count}'. 

Four  miles  further  onward,  where  the  railway  crosses  the  old 
Athens  road,  is  the  Vinton  Furnace  Station.  Here,  the  great  piles  of 
ore  and  pig  iron  ready  for  shipment  on  the  i-oad,  give  token  of  the 
character  of  an  important  i)art  of  its  local  traffic.  The  Vinton  Fur- 
nace itself  is  two  miles  south  of  the  road. 

At  and  near  the  crossings  of  Raccoon  river,  some  6,000  acres  of 
farming  and  mineral  lands  have  been  purchased  by  a  company  of  capi- 
talists largely  interested  in  the  securities  of  the  road,  who  have  liere 
laid  out  a  city,  wliich  they  have  called  Zalaski,  and  erected  blast  fur- 
naces, sawmills,  collieries,  &c.,  for  developing  the  rich  resources  of  the 
district.  A  fine  hotel  structure,  and  the  extensive  new  machine  shops 
of  the  railroad  company,  with  the  tasteful  residences  of  11.  B.  Robson, 
Esq.,  the  intelligent  manager  of  the  estate,  and  Capt.  A.  B.  Waters, 
its  assiduous  steward,  already  impart  an  air  of  thrift  to  the  place. 

Big  Sand  Furnace  Station  is  the  next  halting-place,  Avhere  further 
stores  of  ores  and  iron  advertise  the  neighborhood  (li  mile  distant) 
of  another  smelting  establishment.  The  ores  used  here  are  principally 
imported  from  McArtliur  Station.  A  vein  of  very  fine  coking  coal 
is  worked  at  this  place. 

The  line  between  Athens  and  Vinton  Counties  is  crossed,  soon 
after  leaving  Big  Sand.  These  two  counties — more  particularly  the 
latter — owe  much  to  the  railroad,  in  the  developing  and  marketing  of 


88  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    UAILROAD    OPENING. 

their  mineral  and  otlier  resources.  Astute  statists  predict  that,  within 
fifteen  j'ears,  Vinton  will  be  the  richest  county  in  Ohio,  excepting 
Hamilton  (Cincinnati).  Athens  County,  also,  is  put  in  direct  connec- 
tion with  Baltimore  and  Cincinnati,  by  the  road ;  and,  although  the 
Athenians  had  a  defective  commercial  channel  in  the  Hocking  Canal, 
northward,  before  the  construction  of  the  iron  highway,  yet  the  supe- 
I'ior  celerity  with  which  traffic  and  passengers  can  at  all  seasons  be 
conveyed  over  the  latter,  will  ever  commend  tlie  road  to  the  partiality 
of  all  reflecting  men. 

The  Moonville,  Mineral  City  and  De  Steiger  coal  mines  lie  between 
the  county  line  and  the  town  of  Athens.  At  De  Steiger's  is  a  salt- 
well  in  operation.  There  are  a  number  of  good  wells  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Athens.  The  water  is  about  10  per  cent,  proof,  producing 
much  of  the  salt  used  in  interior  Ohio. 

Athens  is  an  old  western  town  of  some  2,500  people.  Though  set 
on  a  hill,  the  place  is  hid  by  intervening  bluffs,  as  one  approaches  from 
the  bridge  over  Hocking  rivei*.  Tlie  "  Ohio  University  "  and  two  hand- 
some Public  School  buildings  form  tlie  prominent  architectural  features. 

From  a  point  west  of  Athens  to  Marietta,  the  road  crosses  the  tract 
of  country  originally  embraced  in  the  Ohio  Company's  Purchase. 

Emigrants  from  New  England,  who  founded  Marietta,  and  made  it 
"head-quarters,"  early  purchased  of  the  Federal  Government  all  the 
lands  of  this  part  of  tlie  present  State,  and  re-surveyed  it,  making  am- 
ple dedications  for  school  and  ministerial,  or  religious  purposes.  Some 
46.000  acres  at  and  near  Athens  were  appropriated  toward  the  support 
of  an  university ;  and  the  most  of  the  Purchase  has  been  settled  by 
industrious  and  hardy  descendants  of  puritanical  stock. 

Between  Athens  and  Scott's  Landing,  35  miles,  going  east,  the  road 
pursues  the  fertile  "  bottom  "  of  the  Hocking  river  to  "Warrens.  There, 
again,  the  line  takes  to  the  hills.  Anticipating  the  completion  of 
Pilcher  Tunnel,  the  temporary  line  is  substantially  constructed  over 
the  Summit.  Thence,  by  a  good  road,  New  England  and  Big  Run  are 
reached.  At  the  latter  jdace,  the  geological  equivalents  of  the  Pome- 
roy  mineral  locality  (on  the  Ohio  river)  are  found — the  future  subjects 
of  development  and  basis  of  wealth. 

Passing  Decatur  and  Little  Hocking  Stations,  you  arrive  at  Vin- 
cent's. Hence,  12  miles  to  Belpre,  opposite  Parkersburg,  a  good  line 
of  railroad  has  been  projected,  whicli  will  be  constructed  under  the 
auspices  of  tlie  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Company,  so  soon  as  the 
means  are  supplied. 

As  you  near  tlie  Oliio,  "upward,"  the  cars  ascend  the  river  hills  by 


CONNECTION    WITH    TIIK    EAST MAKIETTA.  89 

a  gentle  slope  on  tlic  western  side  thereof.  A  tunnel,  tliree-eiglitlia 
of  a  mile,  is  in  course  of  construction  here ;  but,  pending  its  comple- 
tion, the  road  descends  the  river  slope  by  a  series  of  Y's,  similar  to  the 
ingenious  and  complete  expedient  resorted  to  by  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  road  before  the  Board  Tree  Tunnel  was  tinished. 

At  Scott's  Landing,  192  miles  from  Cincinnati,  you  arrive  on  the 
western  shore  of  the  Ohio ;  and  here,  by  comparing  the  time  con- 
sumed on  the  trip  with  that  occupied  in  making  the  voyage  by  the 
swiftest  boats,  you  find  you  have  beaten  the  latter  16  hours,  thus 
affording  the  traveller  an  opportunity  of  reaching  Baltimore,  Avhile  his 
friend  who  left  Cincinnati  by  the  boat,  at  the  moment  he  did  by  rail, 
is  getting  to  Marietta.  At  Scott's  Landing,  freights  and  passengers 
designed  for  the  East,  are  now  transhipped  on  the  ferry  steamer  for 
Parkersburg  between  eight  and  nine  miles  distant,  below. 

The  river  transit,  either  way,  usually  consumes  about  one  liour, 
giving  passengers  a  good  opportunity  for  refreshment  with  clean  water 
and  Avholesome  food.  Arriving  at  Parkersburg,  200  miles  from  Cin- 
cinnati, by  our  railroad  route,  those  who  do  not  desire  to  sojourn  in 
that  enterprising  town,  take  the  trains  on  the  North-western  Virginia 
road,  and  reach  Baltimore  via  Grafton,  in  sixteen  hours. 

In  our  rapid  resume  of  interesting  places  and  things,  proceeding 
eastward  by  the  Marietta  road,  we  have  neglected  some  subjects  which 
may  be  well  observed  on  the  return  trip.  Of  these,  the  first  in  im- 
portance is  tlie  fine  old  town  of  Maiuetta. 

This  [ilace  is  distinguished  as  being  the  first  in  the  old  North-west 
Territory  settled  by  Avhite  men.  The  "universal  Yankee  nation,"  es- 
teemed, by  many  "  the  salt  of  the  earth "  in  whatever  pertains  to 
physical  progress,  here  planted  their  first  outpost,  in  their  beneficent 
march  toward  the  setting  sun.  Here,  those  concomitants  of  "  Eastern  " 
civilization,  churches,  colleges,  school-houses,  and  manufactories,  are 
found — interspersed  over  and  among  the  graves  of  the  aborigines,  and 
the  tumuli  erected  for  sepulture  and  defence  by  that  mysterious  race 
of  whom  neiiher  tradition  nor  history  gives  any  account.  Marietta, 
with  her  neighbor,  Ilarmar,  from  whom  she  is  separated  by  the  mouth 
of  the  Muskingum  river,  numbers  some  5,000  inhabitants.  A  more 
enterprising,  moral  and  intelligent  collection  of  people  than  these 
places  afford,  can  rarely  be  found.  It  is  a  sign  highly  fiworable  to 
Marietta,  that  more  natives  of  the  place,  of  adult  age,  can  be  found 
among  her  active  business  men,  than  any  other  city  of  the  West  can 
produce,  in  proportion  to  the  whole  number  of  inhabitants.  It  was 
at  Marietta,  tliat  Governor  Chase  welcomed  to  Ohio  the  U.  S.  Secre- 


90  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

tary  of  State  (Gen.  Cass),  Mayor  Swann,  of  Baltimore,  the  French 
[Minister  to  Washington,  M.  Sartiges,  and  a  large  number  of  gentlemen 
and  ladies,  tlie  guests  of  the  several  roads  composing  the  "American 
Central  Railway,"  on  the  occasion  of  the  Grand  Excursion. 

To  the  perseverance  and  unity  of  the  Marietta  directors,  the  Ma- 
rietta and  Cincinnati  road  is  greatly  indebted  for  its  existence. 

Crossing  the  Scioto  river,  by  a  bridge  1.200  feet  in  leugtli,  the  pas- 
senger from  the  East  rapid)}"  nears  the  Garden  City — Chillicothe. 
Tliis  place  was  laid  out  in  1796,  on  the  general  plan  of  Philadelphia. 
An  extensive  plain,  at  the  foot  of  the  t5rst  hills  which  arise  above  the 
conflueuce  of  the  river  and  Paint  Creek,  its  principal  brand),  is  skirted, 
on  its  western  margin,  by  the  streets  and  buildings  of  this  beautiful 
city.  Chillicothe  was  the  tirst  seat  of  government  of  tlie  territory 
north-west  of  the  river  Ohio,  and  afterwards  of  the  infant  State  of 
Oliio.  She  has  always  been  a  place  of  considerable  political  and  com- 
mercial importance  ;  and  her  society  enjoys  a  higli  reputation  for  intel- 
ligence and  refinement.  Tlie  city  contains  some  12,000  inhabitants. 
Two  large  first-class  hotels,  the  handsomest  court-house  in  tlie  State, 
twelve  or  fifteen  churches,  a  market-house,  and  a  number  of  flouring 
mills  and  otlier  manufactories,  are  among  the  principal  buildings. 

At  Chillicothe,  the  railroad  crosses  the  Ohio  and  Erie  Canal,  a  State 
improvement,  ■which  was  opened  through  in  1827,  from  Cleveland  to 
Portsmouth.  Being  surrounded  by  a  wide  district  of  extraordinary 
fertility,  this  town  is  at  the  very  head-quarters  of  provisions  and  pro- 
duce; and  "with  its  railway  and  canal  connections,  offers  a  most  de- 
sirable site  for  manufacturing  enterprise. 

The  portion  of  the  railroad  line  between  Chilliccthe  and  Greenfield 
was  the  first  completed  and  ia  operation.  Tracklaying  was  com- 
lueuced  at  Chillicothe,  westward,  in  1853.  Chillicothe  was  the  lodg- 
ing-place of  the  numberless  guests  of  the  Great  Excursion,  and  added 
much  to  her  reputation  for  hospitality  by  the  conduct  of  her  citizens 
on  that  occasion. 

Leaving  Chillicothe  for  Cincinnati,  the  passengers  first  arrive  at 
Anderson's,  a  fiag-station,  5  miles.  Thence  to  Frankfort,  8  miles,  the 
road  pursues  mainly  the  valley  of  North  Fork  Paint  Creek  ;*  but,  soon 
curving  to  the  left,  crosses  the  Buckskin  plains,  past  South  Salem  Sta- 
tion (7  miles)  to  Greenfield,  24  miles  from  Chillicothe.  Here  is  a  fine 
viaduct  over  Paint  Creek,  from  which  the  town  makes  a  picturesque 

*  In  the  Shawnee  Inilian  tongue,  WoUan-tatigy,  or  paint-stone.  The  principal  street 
of  Cliillicotlie  bears  tlie  quaint  and  rather  flat  name  of  '•  Paiut,"  instead  of  the  euphonious 
Indian  term  of  the  same  mcaninir. 


THE    MARIETTA    LINE    FROM    (JHILLICOTIIE    AVESTWARD.  91 

and  inviting  appearance.  The  next  station  is  ^[imroe,  Highland  Coun- 
ty, at  the  crossings  of  another  large  bi'anch  of  Paint  Creek.  7  miles. 
Leesburg,  on  Lee's  Creek  (4  miles),  and  Lexington  (2  miles),  both 
smart  towns,  come  next;  and  Vienna  (4  miles),  a  place  of  500  inhab- 
itants, in  the  south-east  corner  of  Clinton  County,  succeeds.  From 
tlience  to  Blanchester,  at  the  junction  of  the  llillsboro'  Branch,  IG  miles, 
the  regular  Martinsville  station  (7  miles),  and  Hag  station,  Vandivort's 
(4  miles),  are  passed.  Near  the  latter  place,  tlie  people  called  Shakers 
have  piu'chased  a  fine  tract  of  land,  and  commenced  a  new  settle- 
ment. 

Blanchester  occupies  a  good  position  at  the  junction  of  the  road 
witli  its  llillsboro'  Branch,  and  iu  the  midirt  of  excellent  farming 
countr}'.  As  a  wooding,  watering,  and  telegraph  station,  it  enjoys  all 
the  facilities  the  company  could  give  it. 

Tiie  distance  from  the  latter  place  to  LovelandislS  miles,  by  a 
line  nearly  straight,  and  descending  grades.  The  intervening  stations 
are  called  Level,  3  miles,  G-,  &  W.  Pike,  4  miles,  Spence's,  3  miles, — to 
Loveland,  6  miles. 

At  Loveland,  the  Marietta  road  enters  into  "joint  occupation " 
with  the  Little  Miami  (to  Cincinnati,  23  miles),  by  virtue  of  a  contract 
whicli  secures  the  advantages  of  the  line  equally  to  each  for  a  term  of 
ten  3'ears.  Tlie  cars  of  the  Marietta  pass  otf  and  on  the  Little  Miami 
road  so  readily,  that  the  passenger  from  one  to  the  other  would  not 
know,  unless  he  were  informed,  that  two  lines  were  used  in  transport- 
ing him.  Polktown,  3  miles,  Miamiville,  3  miles,  Milford,  3  miles, 
Plainville,  5  miles,  and  Engine  House,  6  miles,  are  the  stations  inter- 
vening between  Loveland  and  Ciucinnati. 

A  good  line  of  electric  telegraph  has  been  constructed  from  end  to 
end  of  the  road,  and  is  in  successful  operation,  between  Marietta  and 
Cincinnati,  with  ten  intermediate  stations. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  present  Board  of  Directors,  and  other 
officers  of  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Kailroad,  with  their  places  of 
residence,  viz : 

Baanl.—::s.  L.  Wilson,  President,  Chillicothe  ;  "W.  P.  Cutler,  Vice, 
or  acting  President,  Marietta;  -John  Madeira  ay d  M.  S.  Cook,  Ciiilli- 
cothe  ;  D.  Putnam,  Harmar ;  J.  Mills  and  B.  Gates,  Marietta ;  W.  S. 
Nye,  Solicitor,  Chillicothe ;  A.  B.  "Walker,  Athens ;  Hugh  Smart,  Green- 
field ;  H.  Niles,  Alphonso  Taft,  and  Samuel  P.  Keys,  Cincinnati. 

O.  Smith,  Secretary,  and  J.  R.  Crawfiu'd,  Treasurer,  both  have 
their  offices  in  the  road  buildings  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Tliird  and 
Sycamore  streets,  Ciucinnati;  where,  also,  George  Barnes,  the  Super- 


92 


GREAT    OHIO    AKD    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 


intendent,  makes  liis  bead-quarters.  This  gentleman  is  from  the  New 
York  Central  Railroad,  and  has  administered  the  multiform  duties  of 
his  office  nearly  a  yeav  with  great  acceptation  to  the  company. 

In  the  management  of  the  company's  machine  shops,  stations,  road- 
track,  and  the  thonsand-and-one  particulars,  each  one  important  to  the 
success  of  the  road,  a^;e?"«o«?ieZ  combining  all  the  various  talent  desir- 
able lias  been  gathered  and  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  company. 

In  this  rapid  sketch  of  the  great  line  which  composes  the  Ohio 
division  of  the  American  Central  Railway,  many  subjects  have  doubt- 
less been  omitted,  which  would  have  rendered  it  more  interesting.  In 
the  lapse  of  future  years,  however,  opportunity  will  be  offered  to  count- 
less thousands  to  travel  over  tlie  road,  and  study,  by  actual  survey,  its 
prominent  commendations  and  exhaustless  resources. 


Equipment  of  the  Maeietta  and  Cincinnati  Railway. — By  the 
statements  furnished  below,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Marietta  Road  has 
already  secured  an  excellent  equipment  in  power  and  cars,  to  which 
additions  are  contemplated  as  soon  as  its  business  is  placed  upon  the 
desired  footing  by  the  perfection  of  its  through  connections,  and  the 
completion  of  its  local  engineering  works,  which  will  add  greatly  to 
the  value  of  the  road. 

Cai!S.— Passenger,  33;  Express  and  Mail,  9;  Box  Freight  (or 
"House"),  221:  Live  Stock,  212;  Large  Platform,  249;  Lime,  10; 
making  a  Total  of  734  Caes. 

LocoMTivES. — For  Passenger  Trains,  24;  For  Tonnage  Trains,  24; 
making  a  Total  of  48  Locomotives,  most  of  which  are  of  the  first  class. 

Tlie  Stations. — There  are  37  stations  in  all  on  the  line,  including 
the  terminal  points.  They  are  appended,  with  their  distances  from 
Cincinnati,  as  ft>llows ; — 

Milrs. 

Salem     .     . 

Frankfort 

Anderson's 

ClIILLICOTHE 

Schooley's     . 

Londonderry 

Raysville 

Cincinnati  Furnace,  121 

Ely's  Mines     . 

Hamden 

McArthur 

Zaleski 


Plainville    .     .     . 

.      9 

Milford          .     . 

•     .  14 

Miamiville     .     . 

.       17 

Loveland     .     . 

.     .  23 

Blanchester   .     . 

.       39 

Vandivort's   .     . 

.     .  44* 

Martinsville 

.     .  48 

Vienna     .     . 

.     .  55 

Lexington      .     . 

.       59 

Leesburg       .     . 

.     .  61 

Munroe      .     .     . 

.       65 

Gkeenfield     . 

.     .   72 

Miles. 

Miles. 

76 

Coal  Mine    .     .     . 

140 

.  83 

Moonville 

.  144 

91 

Marshville        .     . 

150 

.  96 

Athens    .     .     . 

.  157 

104 

Warren's     .     .     , 

163 

108 

New  England     . 

.  166 

116 

Decatur    .     .     . 

.  176 

,121 

Little  Hocking     . 

178 

122 

Vincent's    .     . 

.  183 

12G 

Tunnel  .     .     .     . 

189 

130 

Scorr's  Landing, 

192 

138 

Maiuetta     .     . 

.  196 

THE 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF    1857. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

niSTOEY  OF  THE  OHIO  AND  MISSISSIPPI  RAILROAD. 

Tnis  road  is  one  which,  in  its  projection,  progress,  and  completion,  has 
been  regarded  as  remarkable,  and  has  been  conspicuons  before  the 
■whole  country.  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis  may.  Avithout  a  reasonable 
accusation  of  ostentatious  assumption,  be  permitted  to  pronounce 
themselves  the  great  cities  of  the  system  of  rivers  that  water  the  Mis- 
sissippi valley.  This  might  be  said,  even  in  stronger  terms,  without 
disparagement  of  the  proud  positions  of  New  Orleans  and  Chicago. 
Tlie  one  belonging  to  and  wielding  the  sceptre  of  commercial  dominion 
over  tlie  gulf;  the  other  enjoying  the  dignity  and  profit  pertaining  to 
tlie  empress  of  the  lakes.  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis  unquestionably 
rank  as  tlie  metropolitan  emporiums  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  val- 
leys. The  immeasurable  regions  of  the  Upper  Missouri  are  not  yet 
among  the  conquests  of  civilization.  If  they  were,  a  railroad,  the 
twin  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  not  in  time,  but  in  place,  would 
pierce  the  Central  America  from  which  that  grand  river  rolls.  Then 
we  might  speak  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Kailroad.  We 
have  only,  however,  now  to  sjieak  of  the  eastern  wing  of  the  railroad 
system  of  St.  Louis,  sim[)Iy,  and  with  excellent  propriety  named  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi. 

It  is  a  favorite  theme  with  the  Honorable  and  distinguished  Edward 
Bates,  of  Missouri — the  central  position  of  St.  Louis — the  prodigious 
valley  of  the  Mississippi,  with  tlie  Missouri  and  Ohio  rivers  forming  to 
the  Mississippi  the  arms  of  a  Ckoss,  extending  over  the  better  portion 
of  the  continent, — each  mighty  stream  bristling  with  navigable  rivers! 
The  great  stream  of  travel  "".ross  the  continent,  when  the  rivers  were 
more  pre-eminently  than  now  the  national  highways — though  even 


94  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

yet,  considered  as  commercial  channels,  who  can  have  the  teinei'ity 
to  question  their  supremacy? — was  naturally  along  the  Ohio,  flowing 
for  a  thousand  miles  from  east  to  west.  Lording  it  over  this  river  of 
many  waters,  a  point  where  the  stream  of  travel  was  stilled  and  left 
a  golden  sediment,  and  great  manufiictories  sprung  up,  and  the  produce 
of  a  wonderfully  rich  conntr}',  vast  in  extent,  and  full  of  the  energy  to 
make  the  most  of  its  resotirces,  was  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  her  way  to 
the  "■  wide  wide  world"  beyond  the  seas,  down  the  river  and  through 
the  gulf  alone ;  the  wheel  and  hoof  carriage  over  the  mountains  not 
being,  from  a  merchant's  or  manufacturer's  point  of  view  worthy  of 
enumeration  as  a  prominent  exception.  The  business  men  of  Cincin- 
nati were  secure,  and  it  seemed  had  nothing  to  do  by  way  of  improv- 
ing the  commercial  ways  of  the  world,  but  by  giving  assistance  in  the 
construction  of  canals  and  turnpikes,  and  the  pulling  of  snags  from 
the  rivers,  and  the  improvement  of  steamboats.  St.  Louis  was  far 
away,  perched  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  above  the  confluence  of 
the  Ohio  with  its  turbid  mother,  out  of  the  way  of  the  current  of  Cin- 
cinnati events. 

.^Vhile  the  men  of  Cincinnati  Avere  busily  loading  fleets  of  steamers 
with  pork  and  grain,  and  the  articles  from  their  manufactories,  and 
taking  care  of  the  tide  of  travel  that  ebbed  and  flowed  from  stages  and 
steamers,  a  change  passed  over  the  spirit  of  the  dreams  of  the  age.  The 
IRON  HORSE  burst  upon  the  scene,  and  there  was  the  -inauguration  of  a 
new  era  of  progress.  The  capital  of  'Sew  York,  the  commerce  of  the 
lakes,  tremendously  tending  to  the  ocean,  the  ease  with  which  roads 
were  built  along  the  lake  shores,  the  level  plains  of  Illinois,  and  the 
grants  of  lands  for  railroad  purposes  in  that  State,  combined  to  out- 
strip the  wealth  and  energ}'  of  Cincinnati  in  making  communication 
between  the  ocean  and  Mississippi,  by  rail.  The  iron  tracks  were  con- 
structed from  New  York  to  St.  Louis  by  way  of  the  lake  shores,  and 
the  travel  from  the  south-east  and  far  West  to  the  middle  States  and 
New  England,  passed  away  from  the  "  Queen  of  the  "West,"  swooped 
far  to  the  north  of  her,  left  her  high  and  dry  on  the  banks  of  the 
beautiful  Ohio,  certainly  not  a  fossil  or  in  danger  of  having  a  signally 
fossiliferous  tendenc\-,  but  out  of  line,  out  of  the  wa}'  of  the  stream  of 
liumanity,  whicli  is  to  the  civilization  of  the  continent  what  the  gulf 
stream  was  to  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic — emigration  tended  to  the 
extreme  north.  Chicago  reaped  riches  from  the  marvellous  develop- 
ment of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  and  gathered  greatness  from  the 
throngs  of  travellers  that  streamed  through  her  streets  from  the  north 
and  the  soutli.     Now  the  best  lands  were  not  in  the  extreme  north 


THE  GREAT  CITIES  OF  THE  WEST NEED   OF  THE  O.  &  M,  ROAD.       95 

but  in  the  centre  of  the  United  States  territory.  Kansas  and  Southern 
Nebraska  should  have  had  the  preference  to  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin, 
and  Northern  Iowa  and  Nebraska,  but  the  lake  shore  railroads  gave  a 
vast  north-western  hnpetus  to  the  national  growth — the  drift  of  de- 
velopment. 

Years  before  this  state  of  facts  had  existence,  the  event  had  cast 
its  shadow,  and  there  Avere  sagacious  Cincinnatians  who  proposed  to 
stretch  their  hands  to  St.  Louis;  or,  less  figuratively,  to  unite  the  great 
cities  of  the  "West  by  a  road  that  should  be  the  great  railroad  of  the 
AYest,  and  pi-eserve  tlie  vantage  ground  of  the  positions  of  tliose  cities 
and  of  the  centre  of  the  continent  which  they  represent,  from  tlie  tem- 
I)orary  overshadowing  to  which  thev'  might  be  subjected  bj-  incidental 
advantages  falling  to  lake  cities  and  regions,  from  the  quick  construction 
of  northern  roads.  And  before  the  northern  system  of  railroads  liad 
been  made  a  fixed  fact,  and  before  the  wonders  that  it  wrouglit  had  been 
more  than  dreamed  of,  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  was  under  way. 
But  tedious  months  before  the  iron  liorses  of  the  Queen  City  rolled 
over  an  unbroken  track  to  the  brink  of  the  yellow  flood  of  the  father  of 
waters,  the  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  even  Baltimore  travel 
for  the  deeps  of  the  AYest,  instead  of  passing  through  its  natural  channel 
down  the  Ohio,  was  in  flight  in  the  flying  cars  via  the  lake  shores, 
touching  at  Chicago,  down  the  Central  Illinois  road,  branching  ofl:"  to 
St.  Louis,  and  through  Cairo,  not  only  to  the  West  but  the  South- West. 
Surely  this  was  literally  circumventing  the  Queen  of  the  West.  It  be- 
came then  to  the  leading  men  of  the  Queen  City,  as  much  of  an  object 
to  restore  the  equilibrium  of  trade  and  travel,  as  to  European  poli- 
ticians is  the  i)rescrvation  of  the  balance  of  power.  And  it  was  to 
those  leaders  in  the  business  of  the  metropolis  of  the  Ohio  valley,  a 
matter  essential,  practical,  immediate,  definite.  Their  pride  and  their 
pockets  were  touched.  That  which  was  to  be  done,  was  the  completion 
of  the  OiHO  AXn  MrssissiPPi  Railroad. 

We  are  informed  of  the  history  of  the  early  jirogress  of  this  road, 
whose  completion  and  the  incidental  mngniticent  celebration  was  the 
event  in  the  railroad  world  of  the  summer  of  1857,  that  there  was  a 
project  of  a  railroad  from  Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis  as  early  as  1832,  for 
a  portion  of  which  a  charter  was  obtained,  while  some  subscriptions 
were  actually  paid.  This  was  premature,  however,  and  the  enterprise, 
after  making  no  sign,  of  which  any  indication  is  now  noticeable,  for 
more  than  ten  years,  was  revived  under  the  present  charters  of  the 
Ohio  and  Mississipj)!  Railroad  Companies,  granted  by  the  Legislature  of 
Indiana  in  Februar}-,  1848,  while  the  Indiiuia  charter  was  recognized 


S6  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

by  the  Ohio  Legislature  in  March,  1849,  Illinois  following  suit  in  1851. 
The  preliminary  survey  of  the  road  was  commenced  on  the  1st  of  No- 
vember, 1848,  By  the  terms  of  the  charter,  by  the  Legislature  of  In- 
diana, the  company  was  authorized  to  survey  and  locate  a  I'ailroad  on 
"  the  most  direct  and  practicable  route  between  Lawrenceburg,  on  the 
Ohio  river,  and  A'^incennes,  on  the  "Wabash  river."  A  distinguished 
engineer,  Prof.  O.  M.  Mitchel,  a  graduate  of  the  "West  Point  United 
States  Academy,  made  a  recognizance  of  the  country,  and  reported 
that  "  throughout  the  entire  distance  from  Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis 
no  grade  exceeding  forty  feet  to  the  mile"  had  been  found  necessary. 
The  entire  cost  of  construction  and  equipments  he  put  down  in  round 
numbers  at  six  millions  of  dollars,  but  in  a  revision  entering  into 
particulars,  he  reduced  his  estimate  to  $5,045,390.  A  few  items  of 
experience,  with  its  unexpected  accompaniments,  however,  has  de- 
monstrated that  this  estimate  was  far  under  the  final  figure. 

•The  organization  of  the  Ohio  and  Indiana  portions  of  the  road  w^as 
effected  in  1850,  Abner  T.  Ellis,  of  Vincennes,  being  elected  President, 
and  a  number  of  the  solid  men  of  Cincinnati  and  Yincennes  and 
of  the  country  between  those  points  chosen  directors.  In  1851 
Prof.  0.  M.  Mitcliel  was  appointed  commissioner  and  engineer  Avith 
powers  to  procure  stock,  survey  the  route,  and  negotiate  for  the  in- 
terests of  the  company.  He  was  energetic  and  successful ;  stock  to 
the  amount  of  two  millions  of  dollars  was  procured,  and  in  January, 
1851,  the  construction  of  the  line  was  put  under  contract  to  Messrs. 
H.  0.  Seymour  &  Co ,  of  New  York. 

James  C.  Hall,  of  Cincinnati,  the  President  of  the  road  (eastern 
division)  in  1854,  reports  of  the  Seymour  contract: 

"  The  work  of  construction  was  commenced  by  the  sub-contractors  of 
H.  C.  Sej'mour  &  Co.,  during  the  summer  of  1852,  but  in  consequence  of  the 
prevalence  of  the  cholera  along  the  line  of  our  road,  in  the  summer  and  au- 
tumn of  that  year,  most  of  the  contractors  did  not  get  fairly  to  work  until  late 
in  the  fall.  From  that  time  up  to  tlie  following  summer,  the  road  was  pushed 
forward  as  rapidly  as  the  great  scarcity  of  hands  would  permit.  During  the 
summer  of  1853,  our  contractors  had  the  great  misfortune  to  lose,  by  death, 
two  prominent  members  of  their  firm,  H.  C.  Seymour  and  Calvin  E.  jMather. 
The  surviving  members  of  the  firm  disposed  of  their  contract  for  building  the 
road,  anil  a  sale  of  the  entire  contract  witli  all  its  conditions  and  obligations 
to  Ilonry  D.  Bacon,  Esq.,  of  St.  Louis,  was  consummated  on  tlie  22d  of  Oc- 
tober." 

On  the  IGth  November  following,  O.  M.  Mitchel  resigned  his  of- 
ficial connection  with  the  company  to  take  charge  of  the  contract 
ofiice  of  the  eastern  division  of  the  road,  as  a  partner  of  Mr.  Bacon, 
under  the  style  of  O.  M.  Mitchel  &  Co.     Prof.  Mitchel  had  rendered 


TIIK   IIOAI)   01!GANI/,i:r>  IN  TWO   DIVI^IOXS. SEYMOUR  CONTUACT.      97 

(listiiiguislicd  servifes  to  the  Coiiipatiy  in  his  capacity  as  eniriticer,  and 
as  negotiator  of  the  bonds  of  tlie  road  in  the  London  market.  His  ser- 
vices in  negotiating  boiids,  was  such  as  to  encourage  greatly  tlie  pro- 
jectors of  the  road,  though  it  is  a  point  susceptible  of  doubt,  whether 
this  success,  showing  the  ease  with  which  money  could  be  raised  in 
behalf  of  the  splendid  enterprise  presented,  was  not  eventually  inju- 
rious, througli  the  spirit  of  overweening  confidence  that  the  greatness 
of  the  broad  gauge  road  would  allow  any  margin  of  expenditure,  how- 
ever extravagant,  without  impairing  the  stability  and  fertility  of  the 
Company's  resources.  The  extent  of  the  Professor's  negotiations  in 
London  was  $2,750,000  in  bonds  and  stocks.  The  bonds  he  sold  to 
George  Peabody,  tlie  "well-known  American  banker,  at  their  full  par 
value,  an  operation  that  created  a  nsarked  sensation  in  financial  circles 
at  the  time. 

We  will  go  back  in  the  course  of  events  to  state  that  Erastns  Gest, 
as  chief  engineer ,  was  assigned  the  duty,  December  15,  1850,  to  survey 
and  estimate  the  road.  He  made  an  elaborate  survey  and  report,  and 
estimated  the  total  cost  of  building  and  equipment  of  the  road  at 
$9,9-42,000.  These  figures,  however,  were  deemed  extravagant,  and 
were  not  made  public,  through  fear — but  the  contractors  seem  to 
liave  had  an  appreciation  of  the  cost  of  the  road  as  high  as  that  of  this 
engineer.  Tlie  Seymour  contract  provided  that  Messrs.  Seymour  and 
Co.  should  build,  finish,  furnish,  and  equip  the  entire  line  of  railroad 
for  nine  millions  of  dollars,  the  distance  not  to  exceed  three  hundred 
and  thiity-tive  miles.  The  contractors  obligated  themselves  to  finish 
the  work  in  five  years.  They  were  also  to  build  all  depots,  station- 
houses,  turn-tables,  and  machine  shops  required  on  a  first-class  railroad, 
and  finish  as  they  might  be  wanted,  forty  locomotives,  forty  passenger 
cars,  five  hundred  freight  cars,  etc.  The  contractors  were  to  be  paid 
by  the  companies  three  and  one  half  millions  in  cash,  two  and  three- 
quarter  millions  in  stock,  two  and  three-quarter  millions  in  bonds. 
The  Charter  of  the  State  of  IHinoi3  required  that  the  work  on  the 
Western  Division  should  be  commenced  before  the  12th  of  February, 
1852,  and  ground  was  formally  broken  at  Illinoistown,  opposite  St. 
Louis,  on  the  9th  of  that  month.  By  special  arrangement  with  the 
contractors,  the  Western  Division  of  the  road — that  from  St.  Lou'"  to 
Yincenncs — was  to  be  finished  in  three  years  from  the  1st  of  July,  1852. 
The  cost  of  this  division  was  by  agreement  of  the  companies  to  be 
rated  at  three  of  the  nine  millions. 

Page  and  Bacon,  of  St.  Louis,  became  financial  agentc  cl  the 
Western  Division,  taking  its  securities,  and  advancing  funds.  By  a 
5 


98  GREAT     OHIO    A^■D    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

change  in  the  raih-oad  stock-market,  these  securities  became  inade- 
quate, so  that  the  financial  agents  were  constrained  to  carry  on  tlie 
■work  on  their  private  means.  "When  th.e  Seymour  contract  entirely 
broke  down.  Page  and  Bacon  had  to  take  the  Eastern  Division  of  the 
road  also,  which  they  did,  under  the  firm  name  of  O.  M.Mitchell  A;  Co.. 
and  continued  to  push  the  work  until  January,  1855,  when,  owing  to 
the  railroad  depression,  they  were  forced  into  suspension,  and  the  O. 
and  M.  road  languished  when  they  fell.  But  Bacon  was  indomitable. 
In  a  few  months  he  had  raised  half  a  million  of  dollars,  and  completed 
the  Western  Division  of  the  road,  which  Avas  opened  on  the  1st  of  July 
to  Vincennes.  The  firm  of  Page  and  Bacon  held  altogether  at  the 
time  of  the  opening  of  the  Western  Division  of  the  O.  and  M.  railroad, 
$1,000,000  of  the  bonds  of  the  road,  and  $900,000  of  stock,  and 
other  liabilities  of  $800,000  in  addition .  A  deed  of  trust  was  made 
by  the  company  to  secure  Page  and  Bacon — made  to  J.  H.  Alexander. 
Under  this  deed  the  road  was  sold  and  bought  in  to  H.  D.  Bacon,  by 
whom  it  was  held  until  recently,  when  it  was  deeded  to  the  company 
by  H.  D.  Bacon,  and  the  company  issued  bonds  to  him  (8d  and  4th 
mortgages)  in  discharge  of  their  indebtedness. 

Tliose  who  are  most  familiar  Avith  the  trials  and  struggles  attendant 
upon  the  progress  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  do  not  hesitate 
to  accord  to  Henry  D.  Bacon  the  highest  praise  for  his  extraordinary 
eflbrts  in  furthering  tlie  interests  of  this  great  undertaking.  The 
names  of  0.  M.  Mitchell,  the  late  Judge  Burnet,  and  James  0.  Hall,  of 
Cincinnati,  Judge  A.  T.  Ellis,  of  Vincennes,  Col.  John  O'Fallon,  of 
St.  Louis,  and  others  whom  we  cannot  noAv  recall,  deserve  to  be  filly 
remembered  for  their  instrumentality  in  advancing  the  work. 


THE 
RAILWAY  CELEBRATIOXS  OF  1857. 


CHAPTER    X. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  OHIO  AND  MISSISSIPPI  nAlLROXT)— Concluded. 

The  first  section  of  the  Ohio  and  Indiana  division  of  the  road  from 
Cincinnati  westward,  was  opened  to  Cochran,  26  miles,  on  the  2d  of 
April,  18.54.  This  section  connected  with  the  Cincinnati  and  Indianap- 
olis road,  then  constructed  to  Lawrenceburgr,  and  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive travel  and  movement  of  freight  at  once  took  place,  realizing  an 
instalment  of  the  practical  advantages,  that  the  proprietors  of  the  road 
had  always  in  glowing  terms  contended  would  be  incident  to  its  open- 
ing. The  nest  section  of  the  road,  formally  opened,  waa  to  Seymour, 
87  miles  from  Cincinnati,  crossing  two  important  tributary  lines,  the 
Madison  and  Indianapolis  Railroad,  intersected  at  iSTorth  Vernon,  71 
miles  west ;  the  other  the  Jeftersonville  and  Columbus  road  at  Sey- 
mour, opening  a  railway  communication  between  the  sister  cities  of 
Cincinnati  and  Louisville. 

Now  there  was  a  Dark  Age  in  the  history  of  the  road,  ^fany  mis- 
fortunes delayed  its  final  com[)letion.  It  was  beset  by  pecuniary  diffi- 
culties. The  Western  Division  of  the  road,  though  "  finished,"  was  not 
in  first-class  working  order.  Mr.  Bacon,  though  supporting  the  road, 
and  sustaining  himself  with  gigantic  energy,  was  embarrassed  and 
perplexed  ;  and  though  his  division  of  the  line,  united  with  the  Terre 
Haute  and  Indianapolis  road  transacted  a  large  business,  and  was 
highly  advantageous  to  travellers,  still  the  Great  Central  route  from 
Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis  was  incomplete.  The  financial  affairs  of  the 
Eastern  Division  were,  if  not  in  confusion,  in  a  condition  of  terrible 
depression.  The  stock  sunk  disgracefully  low.  The  name  of  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  Koad,  from  being  that  in  which  Cincinnatians  took 
pride,  became  a  by-word.  Its  glory  was  under  the  rubbish  of  un- 
fortunate financiering.     The  citv  of  Cincinnati  was  appealed  to,  and 


100  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING, 

after  a  preliminary  examination  of  tlie  road  by  a  committee  of  tlie 
city  council,  and  a  report  upon  its  condition,  the  road  was  iielped  to 
city  bonds,  to  the  amount  of  lialf  a  million  of  dollars,  the  road  sur- 
rendering its  title  to  a  tract  of  wharf  property,  the  necessity  for  the 
use  of  wliich  by  the  city  was  conveniently  discovered.  This  assistance 
was  giveii  on  the  presumption  that  the  road  would  be  finished  as  soon 
as  money  could  do  it.  Presently,  however,  it  was  apparent  that  the 
affairs  of  the  road  were  too  deeply  involved  to  be  remedied  v.-ithout 
some  radical  operation. 

The  problem  of  the  completion  of  the  line  was  solved  by  the  con- 
tract with  tlie  New  York  capitalists,  headed  by  William  H.  Aspinwall. 
Ths  people  of  Cincinnati,  considered  as  distinct  from  the  stockholders 
in  the  road,  rejoiced  greatly  at  the  tidings,  tliat  at  last  the  great  road 
to  the  West — the  straight  line,  broad-gauge — of  which  they  had  lieard 
so  much,  was  to  be  completed.  The  sentiment  of  the  people  of  Cin- 
cinnati liad  always  been,  finish  the  road  at  any  cost,  but  they  had  be- 
come discouraged  at  the  fatal  facility  with  which  money  was  spent 
along  the  line,  and  at  the  principal  points  thereon — at  the  destiny  of 
the  "material  aid"  furnished  to  be  "'switched  off"  at  the  side  track. 
Therefore  there  was  a  sense  of  relief  and  general  congratulation  on  re- 
ceipt of  the  news  that  a  contract  was  to  be  made,  or  was  made, 
which,  whatever  it  was,  insured  the  completion  of  the  road  at  an  early 
date. 

January  23d,  185G,  Samuel  L.  M.  Barlow,  in  behalf  of  Win.  H. 
Aspinv/all.  Joseph  W.  Alsop,  Henry  Chauncey,  Samuel  W.  Comstock, 
David  Leavitt,  Charles  Gould,  David  Hoadley,  William  A.  Booth, 
Lucien  D.  Coinan,  Edward  S.  Gould,  Edward  Learned,  Nathan  Y. 
Carryl,  Manuel  Escandon,  Lewis  B.  Parsons,  Edwin  Ludlow,  AVilliam 
Whitwright,  Schuchardt  &  Gebhard,  and  Edward  Delano,  otl'ered  to  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Eailroad  Company,  to  finish  their  work  from 
Cincinnati  to  Yincennes,  within  eighteen  months  from  the  first  day  of 
May  following,  to  pay  the  arrearages  of  interest  on  the  first  and  second 
mortgage  bonds,  and  all  interest  accruing  upon  the  same,  until  the 
road  was  opened  in  its  entire  length,  and  also  to  settle  the  floating  debt 
of  the  company,  as  well  as  the  balances  unpaid  to  contractors,  upon 
condition  that  the  company  should  at  once  create  a  new  mortgage 
upon  all  the  property,  rights  and  franchises  of  the  company,  to  be  a 
second  mortgage  to  secure  bonds  for  $i,500,000,  Avhich  bonds  should 
be  used  in  exchange  for  the  then  secured  mortgage  bonds  of  the  com- 
pany, and  that  the  company  should  create  a  third  mortgage  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  $3,450,000  of  bonds,  called  Income  Bonds,     The 


Tilt:    CONTRACT    WITH    THE    KEW    YOKK    CAPITA  LISTS.  101 

conditions  Avere  accepted  by  tlie  company  at  a  meeting  on  the  23d  of 
January,  185G.  The  contract  was  closed  on  the  lOtli  of  May  follow- 
ing. Tills,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind,  has  reference  to  tiie  Eastern 
Division  of  the  road  alone. 

When  the  New  York  Company  subsequently  agreed  to  extend  its 
road  through  the  State  of  Illinois,  by  the  jiurchase  from  Henry  I). 
Bacon  of  tlie  road,  late  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Eailroad  Com- 
pany of  the  State  of  Illinois,  in  part  consideration  of  the  execution 
of  tlie  purclmse.  other  income  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $2,900,000 
•were  issued.  By  resolution  of  the  Board  of  Directors  the  entire 
net  income  of  the  road  through  Ohio  and  Indiana  had  been  pledged 
irrevocably  for  the  jayment  of  the  princii)al  and  interest  of  the 
income  bonds  bearing  date  May  1st,  185G.  Now  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors so  amended  this  resolution,  that  the  entire  net  income  of  the 
road,  through  its  entire  length,  through  the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana 
and  Illinciis,  was  irrevocably  pledged  for  the  payment  of  the  prin- 
cii)al  and  interest  of  the  first  mentioned  income  bonds,  and  of  the 
new  income  bonds,  to  the  amount  of  $2,1)00,000,  in  the  proportion 
of  nine-sixteenths  of  the  entire  net  income  to  the  first  mentioned  in- 
come bonds,  and  of  seven-sixteenths  of  the  entire  net  income  to  the 
new  income  bonds,  sulyect  to  the  payment  of  the  interest  of  the  seven 
per  cent,  mortgage  bonds  of  the  Eastern  and  Western  Division  respec- 
tively, and  of  the  seven  per  cent,  mortgage  bonds  issued  and  to  be 
issued  in  ])art  consideration  of  the  purchase  of  said  Western  Division. 

The  New  York  Company  applied  to  the  tottering  enteri)rise  those 
"sinews''  which  are  as  essential  in  the  internal  improvement  of  con- 
tinents as  in  carrying  on  wars,  and  all  the  Avorld,  so  far  as  the  Avorld 
has  heard  the  shriek  of  a  locomotive,  or  has  seen  itse.f  mirrored  in  the 
pages  of  a  daily  newspaper,  has  heard  of  the  success  of  the  company, 
in  the  many  histories  that  have  been  jjroduced  of  the  unparalleled  rail- 
road celebration  last  summer,  which  was  a  festivity  appropriate  to  the 
grandeur  of  the  accomplished  fact,  the  opening  from  Baltimore  to  St. 
Louis,  tlirough  the  heart  of  the  continent,  of  the  Great  Trunk  Line  at 
North  American  railroads.  The  fact  fixed,  the  brilliant  festival  over, 
Ave  may  refiect  upon  the  fact  that  it  has  appeared  that  the  road, — 
the  first  estimate  of  the  cost  of  which  by  an  eminent  engineer  was  less 
than  $0,000,000,  while  the  first  contract  for  its  complete  construction 
and  equi|)ment  was  for  $0,000,000, — has  cost,  now  that  it  takes  its  place 
among  the  things  that  are,  near  twenty  millions.  But,  though  indi- 
viduals liave  lost,  the  country  has  gained.  The  road  is  worth  the 
money.     To  show  the  vast  and  glowing  ideas  and  hopes  entertained 


102  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

of  tlie  Ohio  and  Misiissippi  Railroad  in  its  infancy,  we  may  quote  a 
few  passages  from  the  writings  of  its  early  and  prominent  advocate. 
Prof.  O.  M.  Mitchel,  in  a  Eeport,  dated  February  20,  1852,  said : 

"  Tiie  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  unites  the  great  cities  of  Cincinnati, 
m  Ohio,  and  St.  Louis,  in  Missouri,  by  a  short,  direct,  and  admirable  route, 
with  moderate  grades,  slight  curves,  and  peculiar  adaptation  to  higli  velocities. 
The  route  passes  through  a  few  miles  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  across  the  States  of 
Indiana  and  Illinois,  joining  by  two  roads  four  of  the  most  populous,  rich,  and 
productive  States  in  the  Union.  It  passes  tlirough  a  district  of  wonderful  sus- 
ceptibility, over  rich  alluvial  lands,  rolling  prairies,  and  heavily-timbered  for- 
ests. It  lies  near  the  Ohio  river,  so  near  as  to  preclude  forever  the  possibility 
of  any  competition,  and  thus  secures  to  itself  the  advantages  arising  from  inter- 
secting all  the  natural  and  artificial  channels  of  communication  with  this  great 
river,  at  points  not  remote  from  their  termination.  It  crosses  many  railroads, 
several  navigable  rivers,  two  canals,  all  of  which  must  become  tributary  to  its 
wealth.  It  commands  the  travel  of  that  vast  region  embraced  by  the  mighty 
arms  of  the  Lower  Mississippi,  and  the  interminable  Missouri  on  its  western 
terminus ;  while,  at  the  East,  all  the  great  lines  extending  to  the  Eastern  sea- 
board, concentrate  at  its  terminus,  as  a  great  focal  point." 

E.  D.  Mansfield,  of  Cincinnati,  writing  about  the  same  great  road, 

in  the  same  year  tliat  Prof.  Mitchel  penned  the- above,  says: — 

"  The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  when  completed,  will  be  the  central 
axis — like  the  hub  to  the  wdieel — in  what  may  be  properly  called  the  Railway 
system  of  the  IMississippi  valley.  That  system  wiU  be  as  grand  in  artificial 
works  as  that  valley  is  vast  in  extent  and  resources.  Already  ten  thousand 
miles  of  railways,  exceeding  in  aggregate  those  of  all  Europe,  are  either  finished, 
constructing,  or  planned  with  a  moral  certainty  of  completion.  On  the  North, 
they  connect  with  the  great  basin  of  the  Lakes,  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
to  the  Arctic  plains ;  on  the  South,  they  stretch  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico ;  on 
the  East,  they  are  linked  to  every  great  city  of  the  Atlantic ;  and  on  the 
West  they  are  already  rapidly  tending  to  the  broad  bosom  of  the  Pacific.  On 
a  straight  line  between  the  cities  of  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis,  will  be  found  a 
point  midwaj'  between  the  Atlantic  and  Rocky  JMouutains,  and  between  the 
lakes  and  the  high  lands  of  the  Gulf;  on  that  line  will  also  be  found  the 
centre  of  population  for  that  -ndde  region,  where  eight  millions  of  people 
already  reside,  and  where  nature  has  furnished  abundant  food  and  a  temperate 
climate  for  hundreds  of  millions  in  time  to  come.  In  every  sense,  therefore, 
natural,  commercial  and  civil,  the  railway  line  between  Cincinnati  and  St. 
Louis  occuj^ies  a  central  and  commanding  position  in  reference  to  the  whole 
railway  system  of  the  Central  West.  In  estimating  the  traffic  and  profits  of 
such  a  work,  we  must  not  merely  consider  what  we  know  of  the  present,  but 
look  beyond  into  some  of  the  great  elements  of  nature,  society,  industry,  and 
commerce  ;  for  the  stream  of  business  and  of  movement  on  the  artificial 
connnunic;itions  of  a  country,  as  certainly  pi'oceed  by  fixed  laws,  from  the  re- 
sources of  nature  and  the  arts  and  the  growth  of  a  people  in  that  country,  as 
do  the  streams  of  water  from  their  original  and  perennial  fountains." 

Again  Mr.  Mansfield  wrote  : — 

"The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  will  be  the  central  axis  of  the  rail- 
ways, commerce,  and  population  of  the  Mississippi  valley.     It  unites  the  two 


COMPLETIOX  OF  OHIO  AND  MISSISSIPPI  ROAD  A>D  CONNECTIONS.     103 

centres  or  foci  of  that  vallcj'.  Cincinnati  is  the  metropolis  of  the  Ohio  valley, 
as  St.  Louis  is  of  the  valleys  of  the  Missouri  and  Upper  Mississippi,  To  the 
East  of  Cincinnati  lies  all  the  commerce  of  the  Atlantic,  and  to  the  West  of 
St.  Louis  all  the  commerce  of  the  immense  territory  between  the  Mississippi 
and  the  Pacitic.  These  great  masses  of  human  movement,  from  the  Atlantic 
on  one  side,  and  from  the  Mississippi  and  the  Western  Temtory  on  tlie  other, 
must  meet  and  mingle  in  some  common  current ;  and  none  such  can  be  found, 
except  that  between  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis ;  the  one  the  entrepot  of  the 
Ohio,  and  the  other  of  the  ]\Iissouri ;  the  one  receiving  the  whole  tide  of  the 
East,  flowing  in  by  railways,  roads  and  rivers,  and  the  other  the  whole  tide  of 
the  West,  flowing  to  the  Mississippi.  Then  this  is  the  axial  line  for  the 
great  cities  of  the  West,  and  the  commerce  which  flows  into  them  from  every 
side.  *  *  *  Here,  too,  in  the  midst  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  valleys, 
is  the  garden  of  America,  rich  in  the  most  fertile  soil,  the  most  temperate 
climate,  and  the  most  various  products.  *■  *  *  In  such  a  couutrj'  lies  this 
Axis  Railway,  and  in  every  sense  it  is  central  to  commerce,  population,  and 
production,  unrivalled  in  fniition  and  imexampled  in  resources." 

Now,  we  will  not  undertake  to  say  that  this  is  not  colored  extrav- 
agantly— that  there  is  not  somewhat  of  exagg<  ration  and  much  of 
vagueness  in  all  this  magnificence,  but  we  contend  tliat  there  is  under 
their  strong  rlietoric  a  substantial  basis  of  fact.  Tlie  final  completion 
of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Road  was  au  event  regarded  with  universal 
interest  and  pleasure  by  the  people  of  the  West,  and  the  feelings 
aroused  by  an  event  so  conspicuous  were  disseminated  to  an  unusual 
degree  throughor  t  the  whole  country.  The  completion  of  the  Marietta 
and  Cincinnati  Kailroad,  about  the  same  time,  added  importance  and 
siguificance  to  the  inauguration  of  tlie  Oliio  and  Mississippi.  The  Bal- 
timore and  Ohio  road,  with  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati,  and  the  Ohio 
and  Mississii)pi,  form  one  grand  chain  of  first-class  roads,  stretcliing 
almost  on  a  direct  line  from  St.  Louis  to  Baltimore — the  whole  chain 
farming  the  Central  Continental  Road — the  road  for  travel  and  com- 
merce between  the  Central  Mississippi  valley  and  the  great  Atlan- 
tic city  tliat  is  situated  at  a  point  nearest  to,  and  most  easy  of  access 
from,  the  Great  West. 

Before  railroads  were  an  institution,  l?altimore  was  the  Atlantic 
city  nearest  Cincinnati.  The  newspapers  of  Cincinnati  clipped  their 
news  from  the  Baltimore  journals.  Wlien  the  Northern  railroads  were 
constructed,  New  York  became  the  metropolis  on  the  seaboard  most 
easy  of  access,  and  tlie  point  from  whicli  the  press  of  the  West  drew 
the  current  history  of  the  world.  But  the  completion  of  the  Great 
American  Central  chain  of  road  has  given  Baltimore  her  old  posi- 
tion relative  to  the  West;  and  now  the  Baltimore  newspapers  over 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  are  often  first  to  give  intelligence 
to  tiie  West,  in  spite  of  the  nearly  incredible  energy  and  lavish  ex- 
penditures fi>r  news  by  the  New   York  press.     Tiiis  is  a  lest  of  the 


104  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

drift  of  events,  which,  if  not  ver}'  important  in  itsdf,  is  infallible  as  an 
indication. 

The  3d  day  of  .June,  1857.  was  the  day  of  the  celebration  in  Cincin- 
nati of  the  "opening  of  the  American  Central  Kailroad."'  Tlie  admi- 
rable paragraphs  following,  from  the  Cincinnati  Comviercial^  of  June 
4th,  give  the  spirit  of  the  occasion  at  a  glance : 

"The  pin-poses  for  which  the  Creator  erected  the  Alleshany  barriers, 
against  free  communication  between  the  seaboard  and  the  Valley  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, are  accomplished.  The  populations  on  either  side  have  been  devel- 
oped in  their  habits  and  pursuits  up  to  the  precise  point,  where  necessity  for 
comparative  separation  ceases,  and  the  Divine  ■ndsdom  that  piled  the  moun- 
tains and  scooped  the  vallej's,  has  permitted  their  removal  and  filling  iip,  that 
the  middle  way  across  the  continent  may  be  levelled  and  made  straight,  f  jr 
the  swifter  marches  of  the  armies  that  shall  achieve  the  Industrial  Milleunium. 

"  The  3d  day  of  June,  1857,  will  be  a  date  scarcely  less  memorable  in  the 
history  of  Cincinnati  than  the  24th  of  September,  1 788,  when  the  first  white 
settlement  was  made  between  the  two  ]\Iiamis.  Seven  hundred  miles  of  new 
railroad,  that  perfects  the  direct  route  between  the  Central  East  and  the  Cen- 
tral West,  and  restores  to  its  ancient  channel  the  stream  of  trade  and  travel 
temporarily  devoted  to  the  extreme  north,  is  this  day  jDublicly  opened,  after  an 
expenditure  cf  thirty  millions  !  We  all  know  that  long  before  there  was  either 
stenmboat  or  stage  route  along  Lake  Erie,  emigration  and  ti-alfic  was  across 
the  mountains  from  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  to  and  through  Cincinnati 
westward  to  the  Mississippi.  But  just  as  temporary  tracks  or  "  W's"  are  made 
for  cars  around  mountains  during  the  construction  of  long  tunnels,  so  the  east 
and  M-est  movement  has  turned  the  AUeghaiiies  by  the  long  circuit  of  the  lake 
shore,  while  the  engineers  have  been  levelling  the  mountains  and  filling  up 
the  valleys  in  the  air  line  between  Baltimore  and  St.  Louis  through  Cincin- 
nati.— The  world  has  not  seen  a  greater  achievement,  nor  will  see  its  like 
aijain  till  the  builders  lay  the  last  cross-ties  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia, 
and  the  continent  is  spanned  with  its  bridge  of  h'on." 


Vi'e  present  herewith  tlie  successive  organization  of  the  Eastern 

Division  of  the  road,  with  dates  and  names  from  tlie  beginning  to  the 

present  time : 

Company  organized,  March  29th,  1848,  and  elected 
Abneu  T.  Ellis,  President,  1 

Benjamin  M.  Thomas,  Secretary,  |-      March  29,  1848. 

John  Ross,  Treasurer,  ) 

AuNER  T.  Ellis,  President,  i 

II.  H.  Goodman,  Secretarj',  [-      November  26,  1850. 

Henry  IIanna,  Treasurer,  ) 

Abner  T.  Ellis,  President,  1 

H.  H.  Goodman,  Secretary,  V     June  3,  1851. 

H.  H.  Goodman,  Treasurer,  2)ro  tern.,  ) 

Abnek  T.  Ellis,  President,  "] 

II.  H.  Goodman,  Secretary,  ( 

C.  D.  Coffin,  Solicitor,  -■     ^""®  ''  '^^- 

Ohio  Lii-E  Insirance  and  Trust  Co.,  Trcas., 


CHIEF  ADMINISTltATIONS  OF  THE  OHIO   AND  MISSISSIPI'I  KOAl).    105 


AiiXEK  T.  Ellis,  President,  (declinedj 

Jamks  C.  Hall,  President, 

H.  H.  GooDiiAX,  Secretary, 

C.  D.  CoKKix,  Solicitor, 

Ohio  Lifi:  Insur^vxck  and  Tijust  Co.,  Treas., 

J.^iES  C.  Hall,  President, 

C  D.  CoFFi.v,  Vice-President, 

H.  H.  Goodman,  Secretary, 

Ohio  Lifk  Ixsuhance  and  Tkust  Co.,  Treas 

Hexhy  F.  Bakeij,  Secretary, 

Jajies  C.  Hall,  President, 

TiiosLVs  Gaff,  Financial  Commissioner, 

C  D.  Coffin,  Solicitor, 

Henry  F.  Bakeu,  Secretary, /wo  t^^m., 

Ohio  Life  Ixsukaxc  e  .\nd  Trust  Co.,  Treas. 

James  C.  Hall,  resigned 

Abxer  T.  Ellis,  elected  President,  pro  tern., 

^VILLIAM  Xf.ff,  President, 

Samuel  Trevor,  Secretary, 

WiLLi.VM  Neff,  resigned 

AViLLiAM  Glenn,  President,  /jro  tem.^ 

William  Glexn,  President,     . 

Charles  Gould,  Treasurer, 


June  7,  18.~»3. 


June  6,  185-t. 


November  4,  185-t. 
June  5,  1855. 

I 

J-     June  G,  1855. 

I 

J 

-       July  2(3,  1855. 

September  25,  1855. 
October  15,  1855. 

|-      November  12,  1855. 

November  28,  1855. 
March  1,  1856. 


1850,  May  10.     Contract  of  Oliio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  Com- 
pany witli  W.  H.  Aspinwall  and  associates  to  complete  the  road. 


Joseph  W.  Alsop,  elected  President,  ^ 

L.  B.  Parsons,  appointed  Commissioner,  > 

E.  D.  Hammond.       "       Assistant  Secretary',) 
Jos.  W.  Alsop,  re-elected  President,  ") 

S.  L.  M.  Barlow,  Vice-President,  1 

Samuel  Tkevok,  Secretary,  | 

Charles  Gould,  Treasurer,  I 

Andrew  Talcoit,  appointed  Chief  Engineer  ( 

and  Superintendent, 
L.  11.  Parsons,  appointed  Financial  Com., 
E.  D.  Hammond,      "        Assistant  Secretary, 
Joseph  AV.  Ai-sop,  re-elected  President,  ^ 

S.  L.  il.  Baklow,  A'ice-President, 
Charles  Gould,  Treasurer, 
Samuel  Trew,  Secretary, 


May  12,  185G. 


Jmie  ID,  185G. 


July  29,  1857. 


Appointment  of  General  Officers,  June,  1858. 

Licwis  B.  Paiisoxs,  Financial  Commissioner ;  Wm.  H.  Clement,  General 
Superintendent ;  Axdrew  Talcott,  Chief  Engineer  and  General  Supply 
Agent*;  P.  \\ .  Sti:adeh,  General  Ticket  Agent;  Thomas  Locgh,  General 
Freight  Agent ;  Isaac  Wyman,  General  Western  Agent ;   W.  P.  Van  Dkuksex, 

*  llesigned  January  1, 1S5S,  to  take  charge  of  surveys  of  line  from  Vera  d  uz  to  the 
city  of  McNico. 


106  GKKAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSII'PI    KAILROAD    OPENING. 

Auditor  ;  E.  LippinC(>tt,   Paymaster  ;  E.  D.  Hammono,  Assistant  Secretary  ; 
Coffin  and  Mitchell,  Solicitors. 


THE  "GREAT  XATIONAL  ROUTE" 

AND 

THE    "AMERICAN    CENTRAL   LINE.'' 

As  the  reader  of  tliis  book  will  have  observed  that  both  of  the 
above  dtsignatious  have  been  ai)plied  to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road 
and  lis  chief  western  connections,  a  word  of  explanation  njay  find  a 
place  here. 

Before  the  railroads  to  the  West  were  built,  the  tide  of  travel 
foun(l  its  way  by  the  t;reat  turnpike  known  as  the  "  National  Road." 
This  title  was  accorded  because  it  was  built  by  tlie  United  States 
Government,  having  been  founded  by  Thomas  Jeiierson,  and  com- 
pleted mainly  through  the  eftorts  of  Henry  Clay.  That  line  led  from 
Baltimore  through  Ellicott's  Mills,  Frederick,  Cumberland,  and  other 
well-known  places  upon  or  near  to  the  line  now  occupied  by  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  also  thruugh  Wheeling,  the  original 
terminus  of  the  latter,  on  the  Ohio  River.  Thence  the  "National 
Road,"  pursuing  its  almost  due  westward  way,  passed  through  Cam- 
bridge, Zanesville,  and  Columbus— the  capital — ^Ohio,  very  near  the 
line  now  occupied  by  the  Central  Ohio  Railroad,  which  is  the  chief 
connection  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road  at  Benwood  Junction,  in 
Virginia,  (opposite  Bellaire  in  Ohio,  connecting  by  a  short  steamboat 
ferry,)  four  miles  below  Wheeling.  The  through-railroad  line,  thus 
formed,  as  it  Avere,  upon  the  ruins  of  the  government  thoroughfare, 
by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  and  the  Central  Ohio  Railroad,  has  al- 
Av ays  been,  with  peculiar  propriety,  called  "The  Gkeat  National 
Route,"  between  the  East  and  the  West. 

The  completion  of  the  North-west  Virginia  arm  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Road — from  Grafton,  on  the  main  line,  to  Parkersburg  on 
the  Ohio — and  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad,  from  a  point  near 
Parkersburg  to  Cincinnati,  formed  the  very  shortest  line  between 
that  city  and  the  seaboard,  and  also  with  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
Ri)ad,  the  shortest  line  between  the  seaboard  and  the  city  of  St.  Louis. 
This  fact,  as  well  as  the  high  character  and  the  importance  of  the 
several  roads  constituting  the  route,  has  caused  it  to  be  known  as  the 
"American  Central  Line,"  a  title  used  by  Governor  Chase,  of  Ohio, 
Mayor  Swann,  of  Baltimore,  and  otlier.'^,  in  their  speeches  made  upon 
the  Great  Opening  Celebrations,  wiiicii  we  here  so  tidly  record. 


T  U  E 

RAILWAY    CELEBRATIONS   OF    1857 


CHAPTER   XI. 

AKKANGEMENTS  FOli  THE  FINAL  OPENING  OF  THE  OHIO  AND  iMISSIS- 
SIPl'I   ItOAD.— THE  GUESTS. 

Tjie  three  great  Avork?,  wliose  varied  liistory  wc  have  thus  narrate*!, 
were  fomplete  at  last — atfording  a  direct  and  continuous  line  westward 
from  Baltimore  to  St.  Louis — and  were  ready  for  public  inauguration 
as  one  grand  whole.  The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Kailroad  Company 
took  the  initiative,  and,  acting  independently  of  the  other  companies 
named,  proceeded  to  nuxke  arrangements  for  a  celebration  worthy  the 
occasion  which  saw  their  own  line  in  full  and  perfect  operation  from 
the  Ohio  to  the  Mississi])pi.  It  was  determined  tiiat  the  chief  feature 
of  the  celebration  should  be  a  grand  railroad  excursion  of  guests  from 
Eastern  cities,  over  the  line  of  the  mad,  to  St.  Louis.  Accordingly, 
the  following  circular  was  first  issued  to  the  executive  ofticers  of  dif- 
ferent railroad  companies,  whose  courteous  co-operation  was  desired; 
viz. : 

Oriio  AND  Mississippi  Eaii.eoad  Company,      ) 
Office,  83  Wall  street,  Xew  York,  April  S,  1857.  ( 

SiK : — It  is  our  intention  to  inaugurate  the  opening  of  our  entire  road 
through  from  Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis,  with  some  appropriate  festival  and 
celebration.  Tlie  citizens  of  each  of  the  termini  have  signified  their  wish  to 
make  tlie  occasion  all  it  should  be  ;  and  we  hope  to  see  a  large  company  of 
thos-;  who  are  interested  in  public  improvements,  to  join  us  in  the  excursion 
from  Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis,  and  return  in  the  latter  part  of  May. 

We  hope  for  the  presence  of  a  delegation  from  your  road ;  and  to  facilitate 
the  plans,  we  trust  you  will  accord  to  us  the  covirtesies  usual  on  svich  occasions, 
and  direct  your  conductors  to  pass  the  guests  bearing  our  tickets,  signed  by 
the  I'resldunt  and  countersigned  either  by  the  Superintendent  or  Treasurer,  to 
Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis,  at  any  time  for  some  ten  days  bel'orc  the  excursion; 
and  from  Cincinnati  and  h^t.  Louis,  for  about  ten  days  after  the  celebration. 
The  dates  and  regulations  will  be  expressed  on  the  passes  we  shall  issue.  ^ 


108  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    KAILROAU    OPENING. 

I  will  thank  you  to  send  me  a  memorandum  of  the  number  of  guests  we 
may  expect  from   yoxir  olticers  or   directors   and   their  families;  and  if  you 
please  to  signify  your  consent  to  honor  our  passes  for  the  excui'sion. 
On  behalf  of 

Joseph  "W.  Alsop,  "] 

Henrv  Ciiauxcey,  I 

Charles  Ghuld,  \- Executive  Committee. 

Samuel  "W.  Cojistock,        | 

Samuel  L.  M.  Barloav,     J 

CHARLES  GOULD,  Treasurer. 

A  few  days  later,  the  following  iiiYiration  Avas  sent  to  a  large 
number  of  gentlemen  occupying  prominent  positions  i]i  tlie  various  de- 
partments of  life,  including  leading  capitalists,  bankers,  editors,  &c. 

Ohio  and  Mississippi  Ratlkoad  Company.      ( 
To [OfRcc,  8S  Wall  street,  ^Veio  York,  April  28,  1£57.  f 

The  executive  committee  will  be  pleased  to  have  3"0ur  company  on  their 
excursion  trip,  to  celebrate  the  completion  of  the  Direct  Railroad  Line  from 
Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis,  on  the  3d  and  4th  of  June. 

An  early  reply  is  requested,  as  only  a  limited  number  of  tickets  will  be 
issued,  and  the  tickets  will  be  immediately  forwarded  to  those  who  accept  the 
invitation.  It  is  necessary  to  insert  the  name  of  each  person  in  the  ticket, 
and  it  is  hoped  that  the  ftimilies  of  the  guests  will  join  the  excursion. 

The  guests,  holding  our  tickets,  will  be  passed  free  over  various  routes  to 
Cinciunati  and  St.  Louis,  on  am'  day  before  the  excursion,  after  the  27th  day 
of  ftlay ;  and  on  the  return  trip  on  any  day  before  the  13th  day  of  .Time.  At 
Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis,  they  will  be  the  guests  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
Railroad  Company.  Tickets  not  transierable. 
On  behalf  of 

Joseph  W.  Alsop,  ") 

Hexry  Chauxcey,  I 

CnAiiLES  Gould,  y  Executive  Committee. 

Samuel  \Y.  Comstock, 

Sajiuel  L.  M.  Barlow, 

CHARLES  GOULD,  Treasurer. 
To  eadi  gentleman  accepting  the  foreg;)ing  invitation,  a  ticket  was 
forwarded,  of  which  the  following  is  a  cojjy  : 

TO    BE  SHOWN   TO   COXDUOTORS.  No.    

EXCURSION  TICKET.— OHIO  AND  MISSISSIPPI  RAILROAD. 

Invited  to  the  celebration  of  the  opening  of  the  direct  hne  from  Cincin- 
nati to  St.  Louis.     To  leave  Cincinnati  on  the  4th  of  June,  at  six  A.  m. 
Office  of  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Kaii.uoad  Company.  ) 
A'etc  YorA;  Mai/  Gtli,  1S57.  ) 

Joseph  W.  Alsop,  President. 
Couniersirpied 0«e  of  Committee. 

CoMMiTTKE  :— Joseph  W.  Alsop.  Henry  Chauncev,  Chnrles  Gould,  Samuel 
W.  Comstock,  S.  L.  .M.  Rinluw,  Itaniel  D.  Pago,  Heiirv  I).  Bacon. 


THE    EXCURSION    TICKETS    FOR    THE    CELEBRATION'.  109 

N.  B. — The  Railroads  mentioned  on  the  other  side,  have  agreed  to  pass 
tlie  Guests  free  over  their  respective  Roads  and  on  their  Steamboats  on  Lake 
Erie  and  Long  Island  Sonnd,  on  any  day  after  the  27th  of  May,  going  out ; 
and  ou  the  return  trip,  on  any  day  before  the  13th  of  June. 

The  reverse  of  tlie  ticket  contained  the  following,  viz. : 

NOT  TRANSFERABLE. 

Baltimore  and  Ohio,  Little  Miami,  Columbus  and  Xenia, 

Bellelbntaine  and  Indiana,  Madison  and  Indianapolis, 

liuffalo  and  Erie,  Mad  River  and  Lake  Erie, 
I'liitfalo  Division — X.  Y.  and  E.  R.  R.,  Marietta  and  Cincinnati, 

Ci-ntral  Ohio,  I\Iichigan  Southern  and  X'orth.  Ind., 

Chicago,  Alton  and  St.  Louis,  Michigan  Central, 

("hicago  and  Rock  Island,  X'orth  Missouri, 

Cincinnati,  Hamilton  and  Dayton,  Xonvich  and  Worcester, 

Cleveland  and  Toledo,  Xew  Albany  and  Salem, 
Cleveland,  Columbus  and  Cincinnati,     Xew  York  Central, 

Cleveland  and  Pittsburg,  X"ew  York  and  Harlem, 

Cleveland  and  Erie,  Xew  York  and  Erie, 

lOvan.sville  and  Crawfordsville,  Xorthern  Central, 

(ircat  Western  of  Canada,  Old  Colony  and  Fall  River, 

(jreat  Western  of  Illinois,  Pacific  Railroad,  of  Missouri, 

lIu<lson  River,  Phila.,  Wilniiug-ton  and  Baltimore, 

lUiiiois  Central,  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  and  Chicago, 

Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati,  Pennsylvania  and  Pitsburg, 

Jetfersonville,  Steubenville  and  Indiana, 

Kentucky  Central,  Toledo,  Wabash  and  Western, 

Lafayette  and  Indianapolis,  TeiTe  Haute,  Alton  and  St.  Louis. 

'i^^°  Each  Conductor  will  punch  the  name  of  his  own  Road,  once  tor  the 
trip  to  St.  Louis  or  Cincinnati,  and  twice  for  the  return  trip. 

The  above  ticket  was  enclosed  in  the  following  circular : 

OHIO  AND  JIISSISSIPPI  RAILROAD  COMPANY, 

Oi'FiCE,  88  Wall  Street, 

New  York,  Mat/,  1857, 

The  Executive  Committee  have  the  honor  to  enclose  the  Ticket 

fur  the  Excursion. 

The  holder  can  either  take  the  Hudson  River  Railroad,  or  the  Harlem 
Railroad  from  Xew  York  to  Albany,  thence  over  the  Xew  York  Central  Rail- 
road, or  by  the  Xew  York  and  Erie  Railroad  to  Buffalo  or  Dunkirk.  From 
Biitialo  by  railroad  westward  by  the  lake  shore  route  to  Cleveland  ;  thence, 
if  bound  direct  to  Cincinnati,  by  the  Cleveland,  Columbus  and  Cincinnati  Rail 
road,  or  the  Mad  River  and  Lake  Erie  Railroad.  If  desiring  to  go  by  this 
route  to  St.  Louis,  leaving  the  Cleveland,  Columbus  and  Cincinnati  road  at 
Crestline  ;  or  to  St.  Louis  by  the  Toledo,  Wabash  and  Western  Railroad,  and 
tiience  to  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  at  St.  Louis,  or  any  point  eastward 
1)y  the  difieront  routes  or  from  Buffalo  and  Xiagara  Falls,  by  the  (ireat 
\Vestern  Railway  to  Detroit,  and  the  Michigan  Central  to  Chicago;  or  by  the 


110  GREAT    OHIO    ANU    MISSISSIPPI     RAILROAD    OPENING. 

Michigan  Central  Steamers,  or  the  Steamers  of- tlie  Michigan  Southern  and 
Kortheru  Indiana  Railroad  from  Buffalo  to  their  respective  i-oads,  and  then  on 
westward  over  either  road,  thus  reaching  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad, 
either  by  the  Ilhuois  Centi-al,  or  the  New  Albany  and  Salem  or  the  Great 
Western,  or  the  Terre  Haute,  Alton  and  St.  Louis,  or  the  St.  Louis,  Alton  and 
Chicago  Railroads. 

If  the  Southern  route  be  preferred,  going  by  the  New  Jersey  Railroad  to 
Philadelphia,  and  thence  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  to  Pittsburg,  and 
thence  to  either  Cincinnati  or  St.  Louis  ;  or  from  Philadelphia  to  Baltimore, 
and  thence  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  and  connecting  roads  to  Gin- 
ciimati. 

Boston  passengers  will  reach  New  York  by  the  Norwich  and  'Worcester 
Railroad  and  Boats. 

It  was  the  design  to  provide  for  all  the  guests  in  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis, 
but  this  has  been  foiuid  to  be  impossible  for  various  reasons,  not  the  least  of 
which  is,  the  purpose  of  special  parties  to  be  together,  for  which  the  Commit- 
tee cannot  provide. 

The  Excursion  Trains  will  leave  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis  on  the  morning 
of  Thursday,  June  -ith,  and  meet  at  Vincennes,  whence  the  guests  can  proceed 
either  to  St.  Louis  or  Cincinnati. 

d^"  The  holders  of  Tickets  will  observe  that  the  Tickets  are  good  only 
on  the  routes,  and  within  the  dates,  mentioned. 

CHARLES  GOULD,  Treasurer. 

It  was  considered  to  be  neither  the  interest  nor  the  policy  of  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  Company  to  become  identified  in  their 
arrangements  with  any  other  corporation  ;  their  guests  were  left  free 
accordingly,  to  take  whatev'er  route  to  Cincinnati  they  should  choose; 
and  in  order  to  avoid  any  seeming  preference  for  any  one  route  to  the 
Ohio  terminus  of  the  road,  the  company  omitted  all  efforts  to  organize 
any  excursion  parties  east  of  that  point. 

Public  interest  in  the  contemplated  excursion  soon  became  very 
general  in  New  York,  and  tlie  rush  of  applicants  for  tickets  was  far 
beyond  reasonable  ]X)ssibiIity  of  supply.  The  papers  of  the  day  teemed 
Avith  anticipatory  notices,  and  the  favored  recipient  of  ao  invitation  to 
thojete  was  looked  upon  by  his  friends  as  a  lucky  individual. 

LIST  OF  INVITED  GUESTS  OF  THE  OHIO   AND  MISSISSIPPI  ilAILPvOAD 
COMPANY. 

AspiNWALL,  William  H.  ISew  York. 

Appi.etox,  W.  il.  and  Wife,  " 

Adams,  William,  D.  D.,  and  Mrs.  Adams,  " 

Adams,  J.  W.  Brockport,  New  York. 

Adams,  J.  D.  and  Wife,  Pittstield,  Mass. 

Abratt,  Isaac  and  Wife,  New  York 

Allkn,  Lkwis  F.,  Wife  and  Daughter,  Black  Rock,  New  York. 

Axtiiox  John,  I'rofessor,  New  York. 

Armstrong,  E.  R.  T.  and  Wife,  " 


THE    GUESTS    OF    TIIK    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    KOAD.  Ill 

At\\H)od,  J.  y.  .  New  York. 

Alsop,  Joseph  W.  '• 

Adams,  W.  T. 

''  Albany  Evexixg  Jouknal,"  George  Dawson. 

"Albany  Apgis  and  Atlas,"  VV.  Oassidy  aud  Wife  and  Duu<j;liter. 

"American,"  Manchester,  N.  11.,  J,  H.  Goodall  and  "Wile,  and  S.  D. 

Funis  worth  and  Wire. 
"  Advertiser,"  Newark,  N.  J.,  Thomas  F.  Kennad}-, 
"Age,"  Angusta,  Me.,  B.  A.  G.  Fuller. 
"Altox  Courier,"  George  F.  Brown. 
"  Associated  Press,"  W.  W.  Fulton,  Philadelphia. 
"  Ameemcan  Exchange  Bank,"    New  York,    Williaia  A.  Booth    and 

Daughter,  Charles  II.  Booth  and  two  daugliters,  J.  H.  Stagg  and 

Daughter,  L.  A.  Edwards  and  Wife,  E.  B.  Edgar,   Kev.  A.  D. 

ymitli  and  "Wife,  L.  I.  Fairchild,  K.  li.  Booth,  W.  L.  Booth  and 

Wife,  D.  II.  Turner  and  Wife. 
"Atlantic  Bank,"  Boston,  J.  II.  Kelsey,  Edward  ITutchins  and  "Wife, 

.lohii  S.  Jenness,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodricli  and  Frank  G.,  Mr.  and 

Miss  Harris. 
"  Adams  Express,"  W.  B.  Dinsniore  and  Wife,  Alvin  xVdams  and  Wife, 

Bancroft,  George  (Historian),  New  York. 

Bell,  Edward  R.  and  Wife,  " 

Blancax,  J.  E.  and  Wife,  " 

Breese,  J.  S. 

Bull,  Frederick  and  "Wife,  " 

BowEN,  Henry  C.  and  Wife,  " 

BowEX,  Edward  E.  aud  Wife,  " 

BowEN,  Mrs.  L.  W. 

Barlow,  S.  B.  " 

Bright,  O.  E.  '• 

Barlow,  Miss  F.  11.  B. 

Boyd,  Dr. 

Bronson,  Greene  C,  Judge,  " 

Byrne,  Francis,  " 

Bayard,  Theodore,  " 

Bronson,  Frederick  and  Theo.  B.  *" 

Burr,  J.  S.  and  Lady,  " 

Bronson',  Henry  G.  and  Wife,  " 

Buchanan,  li.  M.  and  Wite.  "  , 

Battell,  Joseph  aud  two  Sisters,  " 

Briggs,  Charles  F.  '• 

burnham,  f.  g.  " 

Bliss,  George,  Springfield,  Mass. 

"  Boston  Advertiser,"  U.  T.  Rockwell. 

"  Bangor  AVuig  and  Courier,"  Editor. 

"  Buffalo  Express,"  Mr.  II.  B.  Miller  and  Lady. 

"  Buffalo  Telegraph,"  C.  Essellen. 

"  Buffalo  Repurlic."  C.  C.  Bristol  and  B.  Welch,  Jnn. 

"  Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser,"  Albert  Jamin. 


112  GKEAT    OHIO    AND    MISSIKSIPPI    RAILROAD    Ol'EMNG. 

''  BuELiXGTON  (Iowa)  Hawkeye,"  0.  Diinhani. 

"Boston  Coukiek,''  John  Cl;irke. 

"  Boston  Jouknal,"  James  A.  Dix. 

"  Boston  Tuayeller,"  Albert  G.  Bro\vii,  Jim. 

"  Burlington  Free  Press,"  Mr.  Benedict. 

"  BrrFALo  Rei'cblio,"  A.  Rawling?. 

Bovee,  C.  N.  New  York. 

J^Ai.DwiN,  Mrs.  and  Sister,  " 

BooTir,  Henry  M.  " 

Bennett  and  Wife,  H.  B.  '• 

Beeoher,  H.  W.  Rev.  and  Friend,  Brooklyn. 

Bull,  H.  K.  and  Wife,  New  York. 

BUSHNELL,  A.  " 

"  Buffalo  and  State  Line  Railroad,"  Jolin  A.  Tracey,  J.  II.  Walder, 

G.  W.  Patterson,  C.  M.  Reed,  J.  W.  Wetmore. 
Bacon,  H.  D.  St.  Louis. 

Bidwell,  H.  L.  New  York. 

Ballard,  O.  and  Danghter,  " 

'*  Baltimore  and  Ohio  RAiLR(jAD  Company,"  175  Tickets. 
Barlow,  John,  Wife  and  Daughter,  New  York. 

Bowman  and  Wite,  A.  H.  " 

Bowman,  Miss,  " 

I^enedict,  E.  0.  " 

Bartlett,  Edwin,  " 

Comstock,  Samuel  W.  New  York. 

CoMAN,  L.  D.  and  Wife,  " 

Catlin,  Julius,  Hartford. 

Catlin,  Miss,  "• 

CouLES,  Mrs.  New  York. 

Carryl,  N.  T. 

Crosby,  J.  P.  and  two  Sons,  " 

Cock,  Thomas  T.  Wife  and  J)augliter,  " 

CozzENs,  A.  M.  and  Miss  Cozzens,  " 

Catlin,  John  M.  and  Daughter,  '' 

CouRTY,  A.  and  Lady,  " 

Cogswell,  W.  L.  and  Lady,  " 

Cowles,  Judge  E.  P.  and  ^Vife,  " 

Clerkk,  Judge  and  AVife,  " 

Campuell,  \Vm.  W.and  Wife,  and  Miss  Helen 

Camphell,  Ciierry  Valley,  New  Y. 

CoLiJY,  GEoi!(iE  J.  L.  Newljuryiiort,  Mass. 

CoLHY',  Mrs.  S.  A.  and  Miss  Anna  Colby-,  ''  " 

Canby,  M.  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

Comstock.  J(tsEPH  J.,  Commander  steamer  Baltic. 
Cleveland,  N.  ai.d  Miss  Abbey  C.  and  Miss 

Titus,  " 

Chambers,  Judge  and  Lady,  " 

Chambers,  J.  and  Miss  Mary  C.  Chamrkrs,  " 

Comstock,  Jos.  J.  jun.  and  Chas.  C.  Com- 

HTUCK,  " 


THE    GUESTS    OF    THE    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    ROAD.  113 

Ci.iNTOX,  C.  A.  aiul  Mrs.  David  S.  Jones,      Poughkeepsie,  New  York. 

Cook,  Levi  and  "Wife,  New  York, 

C'ouDiNGTox,  Moses,  " 

C'liACE,  F.  A.  and  Sister,  " 

CoHBiN,  A.  C.  and  Wife,  " 

"  Columbus  (Onio)  Statesman,"  Richard  Kevins,  Henry  M.  Neill. 

"  Columbus  State  Journal,"  William  Schouler  and  Daughter. 

"  C^nicAGO  Democrat,"  J.  O.  Braynian. 

"•  Cincinnati  Enquirer,"  IT.  W.Derby  and  Family.  Judge  A.  Walker 

and  Family.   Local  Editor,  Geo.  II.  Bronson  and  Family. 
"  Cleveland  Plain  Dealeu,"  J.  W.  Gray  and  Wife. 
"■  Cincinnati  Gazette,"  E.  D.  Mansfield,  Richard  Smith,  E.  B.  Babb, 

and  Joseph  Glenn. 
"  CoM.MEHCiAL  ADVERTISER,"  Ncw  York,  T.  A.  Hall  and  Lady  and  T. 

C.  Callicot. 

"■  Cleveland  Herald,"  A.  Fitch  and  Lady. 

Coleman,  A.  B.  Cincinnati. 

Carkyl,  Lorenzo  and  Wife,  New  York. 

Carr,  H.  W. 

Caldwell.  William,  " 

Clinch,  George,  " 

Case,  Watson  E.  " 

Caswell,  ^Nlr.  and  Wife,  " 

Caswell,  Edward  T.  " 

Caswell,  E.  " 

Curt;ss,  E.  " 

Gushing,  Hon.  Caleb,  Newbni-yport,  Mass. 

Corcoran,  W.  W.  Washington,  D.  C. 

Clapp,  H.  D.  New  Y^ork. 

Cmkistie,  R.  Jan.  " 

Coleman,  W.  T.  and  Wife.  " 

Cati.in,  J.  and  Lady,  " 

CuYi.ER,  G.  W.  and  Lady  " 

Cowman,  S.  and  Daughter,  "■ 

Clarence,  Elswortu,  and  two  Daughters,  "■ 

Coleman,  Fred.  C.  " 

Colkman,  J.  M.  " 

Coi.KMAN,  George,  " 

Coleman,  0.  S.  " 

COI.E.MAN,    R.  B.  " 

"  Cleveland,  Columbus,  and  Cincinnati  Railroad,"  L.  B.  Hubby 

and  Lady,  J.  Miller  and  Lady. 
"  Cleveland  and  Toledo  Railroad,"  Rev.  E.  E    L.  Taylor,  Rev.  E. 

Bryiie,  Jolm  Gardiner,  and  L.  N.  C.  Winslow,  itc. 
"  Central   Ohio  Railroad,"  IL  J.  Jewett  and  Lady,  George  Jfuues 

and   Lady,   C.  B.  Goddard  and  Lady,  D.   A])p]egate  and  Lady, 

D.  S.  Gray,  E.  F:i>sett  and  Lady,  j".  W.  Brown,  William  Wing 
and  Daugh'ter,  D.  W.  Delsher  and  Lady,  Mr.  Baldwin  and  Lady, 
G.  B.  Wrigiit. 

"  Col.  and  Piqua  Railroad,"  8  tickets. 


114  GRKAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

"  Ciric.vGo  AXD  PvOCK  IsLAND  PiAiLiiOAD,"  F.  H.  Towri  tiiid  two  LatVies, 

T.  0.  Diirand  and  J.ady. 
"  Covington  and  Lexington  Railroad,"  10  tickets. 
"  Cleveland  and  Pittsbukg  PtAiLROAD,"  15  tickets. 
"  Cincinnati,   Ham.  and  D.  Railroad,"  H.   O.  Ames,  J.  A.  Wost- 

wiiud,  I).  McLuiie,  R.  B.  Evans  and  Wife,  Jos.   B.  Varninn,  J.  C. 

Wright,  G.  G.  Carlisle,  G.  II.  Hull,  J.   W.  Ellis,   A.  Gross,   W. 

Resor,  S.  Parkhurst,  T.  L.  L'llonimedien. 

Deney,  S.  B.  and  Wife,  New  York. 

Davis,  J.  Mansfield,  " 

DuPONT,  CnARLEs  J.  Wilmington,  Delaware. 

DoMiNiCK,  Charles,  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

Daties,  Judge  H.  E.  New  York. 

Daly,  Judge  and  Wife  '* 

Daxa,  Charles  H.  Brandon,  Vermont. 

Dana,  A.  Carroll,  "                 " 

Draper,  Simeos,  New  York. 

Draper,  Lorenzo  and  Wife,  '' 

DiMPFEL,  F.  P.  " 

Dean  and  Wife,  (J.  T.)  " 

DouonERTY,  Charles  M.  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

Danfortii,  Charles,  New  York. 

Denny,  Thomas,  " 

DiNSMORE,  L.  F.  " 

"  Detroit  Free  Press,"  W.  F.  Storey- 

"  Detroit  Tribune,"  II.  Barnes. 

'•  Davenport  (Iowa)  Gazette,"  A.  Sanders. 

'•  Dubuque  (Iowa)  Ex.  &  Herald,"  J.  B.  Dorr. 

UoDGE,  A.  S.  and  three  Ladies,  New  York. 

1  ELANo,  Edward,  " 

DUTTON,  Gov.  " 

Draper,  William  B.  " 

Uana,  Charles  A.  Wife  and  Sister,  " 

Duncan,  John,  " 

Davis,  S.  S.  " 

Dixon,  Nathan,  and  Wife,  " 

Ellicott,  George,  ^Maryland. 

Ellis,  H.  C.  New  York. 

Elliott,  H.  II.,  and  Misses  E.  and  J.  W.  Elliott,  New  York. 
Eldridge,  Oliver,  and  Wife,  New  York. 

Eldridge,  Cai)tain  Jolin,  " 

ElINENGER,  J.  W.  " 

"  Evangelist,"  New  York,  B.  IT.  Vanaker  and  Sister. 

"  Express,"  New  York,  Erastus  Brooks  and  Wife,  James  Brooks,  Wife 

:md  Daughter. 
"  El.mira  (New  York)  Advertiser,"  R.  R.  Duncan  and  Wife. 
''  Economist,"  New  York,  T.  P.  Ketteli. 


THE    GL'KSTS    OF    THE    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    ROAU. 


115 


"  EvANSViLi.E  AND  Ckaavfoedville  Rd.,"  J.  J.  Daiiiels,  "W.  ^^'.  Foster, 
Jnlin  Ingle,  G.  AV.  Rathburn,  J.  S.  Hopkins,  W.  Burtcb,  J,  D. 
Muddox. 

EvEEETT,  S.  K.  and  Wife,  IS^ew  York. 

E.MEiiSOX,  William,  jun.  " 

Ely,  B.  F. 

Failing,  A.  D.  New  York. 

FosTEi?,  F.  G.  and  AYile,  '' 

FuLLEiiTOx,  William,  " 

Folsom,  Dr.  Levi,  " 

Fheeland,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  " 

"  FiTCiiBi'KG  Sextixel,"  J.  F.  D.  Garfield. 

"  Farmers'  axd  Mechaxics'  Bank,"  Hartford,  Conn.,  J.  C.  Tracey,  L. 
Stockbridge  and  AVife,  S.  F.  Bnrnbani  and  Wife,  S.  Belden  and 
Wife,  Jobn  Goodwin  and  Wife,  II.  Connall  and  Wife,  H.  R.  Hills 
and  Wife,  H.  Perkins,  G.  R.  Pbelps. 

Fisu,  Jonx  W,  Xew  York. 


Gkixxell,  Jos. 

Goodrich,  S.  G.  Wife  and  Daugbter, 

Goodwin,  E.  and  Wife  and  Daugbter, 

Gilpin,  E.  W. 

Gibson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  T.  H. 

GuiXNELL,  William  M. 

Gelston,  Captain  R.  and  Wife, 

GuYOT,  A.,  Professor,  Sister  and  Niece, 

Grant,  O.  D.  F.  and  Son, 

Gray,  A.  B. 

GoDDARD,  Warren, 

CrAjANi,  G.,  Professor, 

Gebmart,  F.  C. 

Gansox,  William,  and  Daugbter. 

Gay,  William,  and  Wife, 

Grant,  II.  A.  D. 

Graves,  Mr>. 

'tiijbs,  W.  C,  Governor, 

.i0i:lu,  E.  S. 

Gri.vxell,  Mixtcrx  &,  Co. 

Gfv,  S.  S. 

Hoadley.  David, 
Homaxs,  J.  S.  and  W^ife, 

lIllUtARI),    ROBEL'T  J. 

I1e\v;tt,  Abraham  S. 
IIiTUK'ucK,  R.  B.,  Wife  and  Son, 
liA>MLT(JX,  Mr.  S.  and  Wife, 
Howell,  S'.  W.  and  Wile, 
Hall,  A.  T. 
Hall,  B.  F.  and  Wife. 


Now  Bedford,  Mass 
New  York. 
Hartford,  Conn. 
Wilmington,  Del. 
New  York. 


Princetoii,  N.  J. 
New  York. 
Princeton,  N.  -J. 


Providence,  R.  [. 
New  York. 

Brooklyn. 

New  York. 


Batb,  New  York. 

Boston. 

Aul)urn. 


116  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

HoAVE,  Mr.  aud  Mrs.  Fisiiei:,  Sou  &  Dangbter,  New  York. 
Haven,  George  G.  NewYo'k 

Hoffman,  George  E.  and  Wm.  Gilmor,  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

Hamilton,  James  A.  Dobbs  Ferry,  New  York. 

Hdmpiirey,  T.  M.  New  York. 

Hoffman.  A.  " 

Houghton,  Rev.  G.  H.  and  Wife,  and  Miss 

Bessie  Anthon,  " 

HoLBROOK,  H.  M.  Boston. 

Hurry,  William,  and  two  Daughter?,  New  York. 

Homans,  B.  " 

Hand,  H.  H.  Brooklyn. 

Hartley,  W.  M.  B.  New  York. 

Hopkins,  Geokge  H.  and  0.  " 

Hitchcock,  D.  C.  " 

Hall,  Robert,  " 

"  Hartford  Bank,"  J.  Bolter  and  Wife,  L.  Wilcox  Wife  and  Daugliter, 

J.  A.  Butler. 
"  Hartford,   Connecticut,  Prcenix   Bank,"  J.    L.  Howard,  Julius 

Catlin. 
"  Home  Journal,"  W.  II.  Morris,  T.  H.  Harford. 
"  Hamilton  (C.  W.)  Banner,"  A.  JtlcKinnan,  W.  M.  Nicholson. 
"  Hudson  River  R,vili;oad,"  James  B.  Swain. 
"  Hartford  Coukant,"  Thomas  M.  Day  and  Wife. 
"  Ham.  Spectator,"  A  Reporter. 
"  Hartford  Times,"  J.  R.  Aveniil  and  Lady. 
"Hartford  Exchange  Bank,"  E.  Flower,  F.  T.  Fisher,  R.  Terry,  E. 

Fessenden. 
Harvey,  J.  E.  and  Wife.  New  York. 

Hicks,  Thomas,  " 

Howard,  J.  T.  " 

IIcRD,  PniLO,  " 

Kurd,  M.  :Nr.,  and  Wife. 

HOWLAND,  T.  A.  '• 

"  Inquirer,  Christian,"  J.  W.  Cory  and  Wife  and  Son. 

''  Independent,"  J.  H.  Ladd  and  Lady,  J.  Leavitt,  D.  D.,  Col.  R.  IJ. 

Leavitt. 
"  Indianapolis  State  Sentinel,"  J.  J.  Bingham. 
"  Indianapolis  Journal,"  R.  R.  Sulyeiie. 

Jones,  Andrew,  and  Wife.  New  Orleans. 

Jackson,  J.  P.  Wife,  and  2  Daughters,  New  Jersey  Railroad. 

James,  Augustus,  New  York. 

Jones,  Rev.  C.  J.  '' 

Jou.vsoN,  G.  G.  Bramford,  Connecticut. 

Jerome,  A.  G.  and  Wife,  New  York. 

Jackson,  R.  and  Daii^djter,  •' 

Jackson,  P.  and  Daugliter,  " 

Jaudan,  Peyton,  " 


THE    GUESTS    OF    TIIR    OHIO    AND  MTSSISSI  IM'I    ROAD.           117 

"  Jeffeksoxvili.e  Railroad,"  12  Tickets. 

"  Indianai'oi  IS  AND  CINCINNATI  Railroad,"  II.  C.  Loi'd,  6  Tickets. 

Kaus,  Riciiar.d,  New  York. 

Kassox,  W.  M.  Biiflulo. 

Kelly,  Hon.  John,  New  York. 

KiRKLAND,    C.  P.  " 

King,  Rdfds  H.  Allmny. 

Kemble,  Gouverneue,  Odld  Spring,  New  York. 

Kino,  IlEZKKiAir,  New  York. 

KlRKPATRlCK,  0.  " 

KiRKLAND,  Mrs.  William,  " 

Kingston,  0.  W.  British  Wliig. 
"  Kennebec  Jourxal,"  J.  Stevens  ami  Lad}-,  J.  G.  Blaire  and  Lady. 
"  Kentpcky  Central  Railroao,"  J.  B.  Leassey,  John  Cunningham, 
Edward  Oldham,  Gen.  L.  Deslia,  Mr.  Go  wan. 

Lasalle,  Charles  and  Wife,  Conrrier  des  Etats-Unis. 

Little,  D.  II.,  and  Miss  Jolia  Little,  Cherry  Valley,  N.  Y. 

Learned,  E.  Wife  and  Daughter,  Pittstleld,  Miiss. 

Leavenworth,  E.  W.  and  Wife,  Syracnse,  New  York. 
Latham,  R.  W.,  President  of  Pittsburg  and  Steubenville  Railroad  Co. 

Lang,  Louis,  New  York. 

Litchfield,  Edwin  C.  " 

LiGHTBODY,  M.  " 

Lek,  W  H.LI  am  p.  '<■ 

LoTHROP,  1).  D.  Boston. 

LoTHROP,  T.  K.,  Rev.  " 

Lord,  Rev.  N.  New  Hampshire. 

Livingston,  John  and  Wife,  New  York. 

Leland,  Charles  and  Wife,  " 

Leland,  Louis  and  Lady,  " 

Lowe,  James,  " 

"  Lowell  Courier,"  R.  W.  Ball. 

"  Lafayette  and  Indianapolis  Railroad,"  8  Tickets. 

Ludlow,  Edwin,  New  Yt)rk. 

Ludlow,  W.  II.  and  Wife,  " 

LiTOHFORD,   W.  " 

Leake,  F.  " 

Larocque,  Jeremiah,  " 

Leavxtt,  D.vyid,  •' 

Mallory,  Miss  C.  R.  Troy,  New  York. 

Mallorv,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  "             " 

Meredith,  Gilmore,  Baltimore. 

jMarbury,  F.  F.  and  Wife  and  two  Sons,  New  York. 

Morgan,  E.  E.  and  Wife,  " 

Morgan,  W.  I),  and  Miss  Ruth  Morgan,  " 

Meeker,  L.  M.  and  Lady,  " 

^Fadden,  E.  M.  and  Ladv,  " 

Murray,  D.  C.  and  Wife,  " 


118  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

JSIaswell,  John  D.  and  two  Miss  Maxwells,  XewYork. 
^tlAXWELL,  Jas.  E.  and  Sister,  &  Miss  Dunlop,        " 
MiLLEn,  Chakles  G.  Buffalo. 

Marquand,  H.  G.  New  York. 

Moses,  Isaac,  " 

Moss,  Jesse  L.  'Kew  York. 

MONTGOMEKY,  A.  G.  '' 

Mttnroe,  Co].  J.  " 

Morgan,  E.  D.  and  Wife,  " 

Morgan,  E.  D.  jnn.  and  Wife,  " 

"  Manhattan  Co.,"  G.  H.  Blunt,  C.  O.  Halstead. 

"  Musical  World,"  Aug.  Morand,  Richard  S.  Willis. 

"  Montreal  Witness,"  John  Dougall. 

"  MiLWAUKiE  Sentinel,"  Eufus  King  or  Mr.  Watson. 

"  MAd    River  and  Lake  Erie  Railroad,"  C.   0.  Dennis,  Wife  and 

Daughter,  R.  E.  Runkle,  President. 
"  MoNTPELiER  (Vermont)  Watchman,"  E.  E.  Walton. 
"  MiLWALKiE  Free  Democrat,"  S.  M.  Booth  and  Wife. 
"  Madison  (Wisconsin)  State  Journal,"  David  Atwood  and  Wife, 

and  Horace  Ruble  and  Lady. 
"  Manhattan  Co.,"  O.  State,  jun.,  G.  J.  Stevens,  S.  Brown,  and  Jas. 

Warren. 
"  MiLWAUKiE  WiscoNsiNiAN,"  A.  Jackson. 
"•  Marietta  AND  Cincinnati  Railroad,"  10  Tickets  to  K.  L.  Wilson, 

President. 
"  Michigan  Central  Railroad,"  J.  Livermore,  Hon.  C.  A.  Phelps. 
"  Madison  and  Indianapolis  Railroad,"  F.  H.  Smith  and  Son,  E  „W. 

Ellis,  W.  H.  Dure,  X.  Powell.  D.  C.  Branham,  W.  H.  Branhain, 

R.  P.  Jones. 
McCoMB.  H.  S.  Wilmington,  Delaware. 

McMiNN,  W.  H.  Philadel!)hia. 

Maclay,  W.  B.  and  N,  New  York. 

McCuRDY,  R.  H.  and  R.  A.  " 

McDaniel  and  Wife,  O.  " 

Manning,  J.  B.  " 

Maseras,  E.  " 

Morgan,  IT.  K.  " 

McCauly,  H.  W.  B. 

Martin,  D.  R.  Wife  and  Daughter.  " 

Manice,  William  D.  F.  and  Wife,  " 

McDonald,  Rev.  J.  M.  and  Wife.  " 

Manice,  Miss  C.  " 

Manice,  D.  F.  and  Wife,  " 

Makkle,  W.  H.  " 

"  New   York  Oeservkr,"  R.  C.  Morse  and  Lady,  Jas.  Ilodge  and 

Wife. 
Noyes,  Miss,  New  York. 

Napier,  Lord,  Washington. 

NoRRis,  William,  New  York. 


THE    CiUESTS    OF    THE    OHIO    ANl)    MISSISSU'Pl    HOAD. 


119 


Newbin,  J.  P.  Now  York; 

"  NonTH  Ajieiuoan  Gazette,"  Pliiladelpliia,  Morton  McMichael. 

"  New  York  Sun,"  M.  S.  Bcacli,  AVife,  Son,  and  two  Daughters. 

"  New  York  Courier,"  G.  H.  Andrews,  Wife  and  Daughter,  W.  H. 
Bogart  and  Daughter. 

"  Kew  York  Daily  Times."  Editor. 

"  New  Albany  and  Salem  Railroad,"  12  Tickets?. 

"  Norwich  and  Worcester  Kailway,"  "W.  C.  Young,  W.  E  Young, 
John  Aley,  and  W.  Aley. 

"  New  Jersey  Locomotive  Company,"  James  Jackson,  John  Hop- 
per, E.  AV.  Dickison,  B.  Salter. 

"  New  York  and  Erie  Railroad,"  D.  Von  Hoffman,  II.  Ramsdell  and 
Friend,  M.  Clary  and  Mr.  Gregory,  S.  Brown,  Cusliman  Skidmore, 
II.  Gelpecke,  S.  Marsh  and  "Wife,  and  N.  Marsh. 

"New  York  and  Harlem  Railroad  Company,"  N.  P.  Bailey  and 
Wife  and  Daushter,  J.E.  Dnnham,  Pliilo  Ilurd,  Ladv  and  Daughter, 
A.  J.  Dennis, 'Edward  Haight  and  Lady,  J.  II.  Taill,  J.  W.  Leeds, 
L.  N.  Miller,  D.  Ivimberly,"E.  S.  Abern'ethy. 

Otis,  Isaac,  New  Tork. 

OxDERDONK,  J.  C.  and  J.  P,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 
Onderdonk,  C.  "  '' 

Olcott,  H.  J.  and  Daughter,  Cherry  Valley,  N.  Y. 

OsBORN,  W.  R.  Biiighamton,  N.  Y. 

Ogden,  Aaron,  New  York. 
Ogden,  Dayton,  " 

Owen,  John,  " 

Perry,  M,  C,  Commodore,  United  States  Navy. 

Palmer,  Courtlandt,  Wife  and  Daughter,  New  York. 

Pierson,  II.  L.  and  two  Daughters,  " 

PlEUSON,   E.  F.  " 

Phelps,  G.  D.  and  Daughter,  " 

Peck,  Aaron,  New.;rk,  N.  J. 

Palmer,  George,  President  "Buffalo  and  State  Line  Railway,"  Charles 

II.  Lee,  E.  Kempshall,  Jo?.  Candall. 

Pdtnam,  James  O.  Buffalo. 

Palmer  Edward,  New  York. 
Parker,  Misses  Kittie  and  Charlie, 
PoMEROY,  Theo.,  and  "Wife, 


Pomeroy,  Robert,  and  Wife, 

Pollock,  William,  and  Wife, 

Partridge,  Thomas  M. 

Partridge,  J.  R. 

Partridge,  F.  E. 

Palmer,  Charles,  and  AVife, 

Philips,  E.  B.,  and  Lady, 

Phelps,  J.  O. 

Pratt,  Hon.  T.  G. 

Pomeroy,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George, 

Pomeroy,  E.,  and  Miss  G.  Pomeroy, 


Pittsfield,  Mass. 


New  York, 

Baltimore. 

u 

New  York. 


Maryland. 
Pittsfield,  Mass. 


120 


GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPEXING. 


Prince  and  Sox,  S.  J.  Kev.  Lexington,  Ky. 

Philadelphia  Reporters,  two  Tickets. 

"  Pexxstltaxia  Railroad,"  Hon.  H.  F.  Mott,  George  Scott,  Arnold 
Plumraer.  F.  Leach. 

"  Palladium,"  (New  Haven,  Connecticut,)  J.  F.  Babcock  and  Wife 
and  Dangliter. 

"  Portsmouth  Gazette,"  Ed.  N.  Fuller. 

"  Pexxsylvaxiax,"  (Philadelphia,)  A.  Schofield  and  Wifo,  William 
Reid. 

"  Pittsburg  Gazette,"  S.  Riddle,  R.  Everet,  D.  L.  Eaton,  D.  F.  Wil- 
liams. 

''  Philadelphia  Bulletin,"  Mr.  Comings,  W^ife  and  Daughter. 

"  Pittsburg  Post,"  J.  P.  Barr  and  Wife 

"  Philadelpiik\,  Wilmingtox  axd  Baltimore  Railroad,"  S.  M.  Felton. 
President,  and  four  Blanks. 

"  Post,"  J.  Henderson  andLadj",  G.  Robinson  and  Lad}-. 

u  Pittsburg,  Fort  Watxk  and  Chicago  Railroad,"  Gen.  W,  Robin- 
son, Jun.,  and  Wife,  Hon.  Samuel  Hanna,  Hon.  -John  Lawrence, 
Hon.  J.  Conle,  Dr.  John  Evans,  C  M.  Russell,  A.  L.  Wheeler, 
Major  Wade,  John  Scott,  G.  W.  Williams,  J.  Sawall,  II.  D.Foster 
and  Wife,  Hon.  J.  L.  Dawson  and  Wife,  Hon.  M.  Hampton  and 
Wife,  Hon.  A.  W.  Loomis,  C.  T.  Sherman,  J.  Robinsrn,  J.  W. 
Brown  and  Wife,  J.  F.  Cowan,  J.  McAule}',  R.  Everett. 

Potter,  H.  C. 


QuixcY,  Edmuxd, 

"  Quebec  Mercury,"  G.  T.  Carry. 

Raymoxd,  Hon.  H.  J. 

Robinson,  K.  R. 

Rice,  Dr. 

RoBiLLARD,  J.  C.  and  Wife, 

Rax.som,  J.  H.  and  Wife, 

Read,  E.  T. 

rossitter,  t.  p. 

ruggles,  j.  f. 

Russell,  Charles  H. 

Rathboxe,  Joel, 

RuNYON,  Judge  P.  P. 

Richards,  T.  Addison, 

RiGGS,  Elisha, 

Robe,  H.  C. 

Roebling.  J.  A.  and  Wife, 

RniND,  J.  0. 

RlKER,  A.  S. 

Riker,  Mrs.  A.  J.  and  Miss  Tyson, 
Ratiibone,  John  F. 
Ruggles,  S.  B.  and  Wife, 
Redmond,  G.  H. 
RuxTON,  William, 


Boston. 


New  York. 


New  Haven. 
New  York. 


Albany. 

New  Brunswick,  K.  J. 

New  York. 


Albany. 
New  York. 


GUESTS    OF    THE    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    ROAD. 


121 


Raxsom,  S.  H.  and  Wife,  Xew  York. 

'•  Railroad  Advocate,"  Benj.  Coggen?,  D.  W.  Vaughan,  A.  ]M.  Toner. 

"  Railroad  Jocrxal,"  J.  FI.  Schnltz  and  Wife. 

'^  Rochester  Americax',"  Chester  P.  Dewej'. 

"  Rochester  Uxiox,"  J.  Butts  and  Wife. 

"  Rochester  Democrat,"  S.  P.  Allen. 

SoHucHARDT  &  Gebhard,  New  York 

Smith,  Hexry  B.  and  Wife,  '• 

Sattehlee,  George  B.  " 

Staigg,  Richard  M.  and  Sister,  " 

Saxger,  Dr.  and  Wife,  " 

Stewart,  Charles,  and  Daughter,  " 

Scott,  William  B.  and  Ladj,  " 

Stoxe,  S.  K.  and  Lady,  " 

Starrex,  J.  " 

Strachax,  p.  " 

SoTDAM,  Charles  C.  and  Sister,  " 

Seytox,  Charles  S.  " 

Sullivax,  X.  and  Wife,  " 

Sqcier,  E.  Geouge, 

Sargeaxt,  M.  II.  and  Wife, 

Stephens,  I.  P. 

Stephexs,  Bexjamix, 

Saxford,  J.  P.  "Wife  and  Daughter, 

Small,  Thomas,  and  Wife  and  Daughter, 

Smith,  C.  G. 

Sedgwick,  TnEodoRE,  Son  and  Daughter 

Sullivan,  Thomas, 

Seymour,  O.  S.  and  Wife, 

Smith,  N.  J. 

Suydam,  Samuel  and  Wife,  " 

Sims,  Dr.  J.  Mariox,  Wife  and  two  Daughter?,      " 

"  SciESTiFio  Americax,"  S.  H.  Wales  and  Wife,  E.  0.  Chapin, 

"  Syracuse  Jourxal,"  J.  G.  K.  Tenair  and  Wife. 

"  Salem  Mass.  Gazette,"  Caleb  Foote. 

"  State  Jourxal,"  (Springfield,  Illinois),  E.  L.  Baker  and  Lady,  W. 

II.  Bailbache  and  Lady. 
»'  State  Baxk,"  (Hartford.  Conn.).  H.  IT.  D.  Callender  and  Lady,  D.  W. 

Pardee   and  Lady,   E.  D.   Tiftany   and  Lady,    J.    Hill?,  A.    C. 

Ilotchkiss. 
"  Steuijexville  axd  Indiana  Railroad,"  T.  L.  Jewett,  Col.  J.  Collier 

G.  H.  Howell,  Thomas  Willis  Robbins,  W.  K.  Johnson,  Joseph 

Means,  W.  McDonald, 
Sproull,  John  J.  Kew  York. 

Salisbury,  E.  C.  " 

Sparks,  E.  A.  " 

Sag,  W.  F.,  Wife  and  Daughter,  " 

Sottter,  J.  T.  " 

SiMOXTOX,  C.  D.  " 


Boston, 
New  York. 

u 

Albany. 
New  York. 


Litchfield,  Conn, 
New  York. 


122  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENIN6. 

SoHELL,  Aug.,  Hon.  New  York. 
Sage,  E.,  Hon. 

Saxton,  E.  D.,  Wife  find  Daughter,  " 

Snow,  George  M.,  Wifo  and  Daughter,  " 
SriEuwooD,  JonN, 

TiioMPsox,  Kev.  Wiluam  L.  and  Wife,  " 

Treadweli.,  p.  " 

Tucker,  Charles  and  Lady,  " 

TowNSEXD,  S.  W.,  Jnn.  and  Wife,  " 

TowNSEND,  Jonx,  Jan.  and  Wife,  " 

Tracy,  Charles,  Wife  and  Daughter,  " 

TopPAN,  Charles,  Wife  and  Miss  Toppan,  " 

Trow,  John  F.  " 

Tallmadge,  Mr.  F.  A.,  Wife  and  Daughter,  " 

Twining,  A.  0,  and  two  Ladies  and  Son,  New  Haven. 

Trimble,  J.  E.  and  Son,  Baltimore. 

ToppAN,  J.  Nelson,  New  York. 

Thorne,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  J.  " 

Thorne,  J.  W.  " 

Tracy,  William,  Wife  and  two  Daugliters,  " 

Titus,  George  N.  and  Lucretia  Titus,  " 

Townsend,  Peter,  " 

TowNSEND,  C.  and  Augusta,  '' 

Townsend,  Isaac,  " 

Townsend,  George  E.  " 

Treadwell,  G.  C.  " 

ToRRY,  Dr.  John,  and  Daughter,  " 

Thompson,  C.  C.  " 

Thompson,  C.  M.  T.,  C.  D.  Matthew,  " 

Thompson,  John  E.  Eiclmiond,  Va. 

Taylor,  J.  N.  " 

Topping,  W.  H.  Washington. 
"  Troy  Budget,"  C.  L.  McArthur. 

Townsend,  D.  J.  and  Wife,  Buffalo. 

TiLLOTSON,  C.  H.  New  York. 

Tallmadge,  F.  S.  and  Wife,  " 

Thompson,  Eev.  J.  W.  " 

"  Utica  Herald,"  E.  PL  Eoherts  and  Wife,  Cul.  Am.  Clarke. 
"  Utica  Observer,"  De  Witt  C.  Grove. 

Van  WINKLE,  Edgar  S.  and  two  Daughters,  New  York. 

Yanwinkle,  Mrs.  " 

Vanderpoel,  a.  J.,  Judge,  " 

Yinton,  Francis,  Eev.  Brookl^'n. 

YiNTON,  E.  Perry,  and  Oliver  Peury,  " 

Yan  Deventek,  \V.,  Wife  and  Daugiiter,  New  Y'ork. 

Yermilye,  T.  E.,  Rev.  " 

Yandervoort,  C.  and  Wife,  " 

Yan  Wycke,  Charles,  " 

Yail,  H.  F.  « 


ROUTE    OF    THE    GUESTS   TOWARDS    THE    WEST. 


123 


Willis,  N.  P. 

Wakdex,  IMrs. 

WatoOX,  R.  S. 

WniTE,  Miss, 

Walker,  George, 

Woodward,  George  F. 

Wixtiirop,  B.  R. 

Woodruff,  G.  C.  and  Wife, 

WniTEWRiGiiT,  Juii.,  William, 

Watts,  R.,  Jiin. 

Wells,  Henry, 

AVooDiiuLL.  Lieut.  Maxwell, 

Wheeler,  D.  E.  and  Lady, 

West,  Captain  James, 

WiiTTE,  William  Pinckney, 

White,  Charles  and  Wife, 

Walton,  H. 

WoLCOTT,  Dr. 

Williams,  S.  and  Lady, 

Walters,  W.  T. 

Webster,  Sydney, 

Wharton,  Dr.  J.  0. 

AYooDRUFF,  Charles  H. 

Wright,  W.,  Hon. 

Williams,  A.  D. 

Williams,  J.  P. 

Williams,  Jane, 

"  Worcester  Spy,"  Jolm  M.  Earle  and  Mr 

"  Watertown  Union,"  R.  Chamberlain. 

Woodside,  W.  G. 

Wilcox,  P.  F. 

Wood,  O.  E.  and  Daugliter, 

AViiitney,  Samuel  S. 

Washington,  P.  G. 

Williamson,  J.  D.,  Captain, 

WiLMERDING,  J.  C. 

"  Wells,  Fargo  it  Co.'s  Express,"  W. 
Daughter,  E.  P.  Williams,  Wife  and  t 
Lady,  J.  McKaye,  D.  N.  Barney,  J.  G, 

Zimmerman,  J.  E. 


New  York. 

u 

Boston. 
New  York. 
Springfield. 
New  York. 

Litchfield. 
New  York. 


Unite'l  States  Navy. 
New  York. 

u 

Baltimore. 
New  York. 


Baltimore. 
Boston. 
Baltimore, 
New  York. 
Newark. 
New  York. 


.'A.  H.  South  wick. 
Baltimore. 

a 

New  York. 

u 

Washington. 

a 

G.    Fargo    and    Wife  and 
wo  Daughters,  H.  Kip  and 
Camp. 

New  York. 

About  900  Tickets  were  presented  to  citizens  of  Cincinnati,  St. 
Louis,  &c. 

Many  of  these  guests  from  New  York  and  points  east  of  that  city, 
started  a  Aveek  before  the  date  of  the  excursion,  proceeding  by  the 
northern  lines  of  railroad,  touching  and  halting  briefly  at  Niagara,  and 
various  other  points  of  interest  easily  taken  in  their  route.  In  the 
West,  mean  time,  ample  preparations  wore  making  to  receive  and  en- 


124  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

tertaia  the  expected  strangers.  At  St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati  the  citi- 
zens and  public  authorities  vied  -witli  each  other  in  arrangements, 
which  sliould  favorably  impress  their  visitors,  enhance  their  enjoy- 
ment, and  give  due  eclat  to  the  occasion.  At  Marietta,  Chillicotlie, 
and  other  places  the  citizens  also  prepared  themselves  for  such  exhibi- 
tions of  Western  liospitality  as  the  time  of  the  excursionists  would 
enable  them  to  accept.  One  of  the  most  gratifying  incidents  of  this 
entire  affair  was  the  heartiness  with  which  the  people  all  along  the 
line  of  the  roads  about  to  be  opened,  thus  practically  expressed  their 
interest  in  the  enterprise,  and  the  generosity  with  which  they  arranged 
for  the  reception  of  their  stranger-friends  from  the  East. 

Probably  one-third  of  all  the  guests  invited  by  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi Railroad  Company  proceeded  to  the  West  TiCi  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad,  in  advance  of  the  excursion,  to  view  its  grandly  im- 
posing scenery,  and  breathe  the  pure  air  of  the  mountain  region 
through  which  it  climbs.  It  will  be  seen  that  by  this  arrangement 
the  Camden  and  Amboy,  and  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore 
railroads  become  a  Western  as  well  as  a  Southern  line, — the  passengers 
by  it  reaching  Cincinnati  or  St.  Louis  from  New  York  just  as  easily  as 
by  any  other  route,  travelling  less  distance  than  by  any  other,  and  in 
the  least  time  of  all. 


THE 

RAILWAY    CELEBRATIONS   OF   1857. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

GENERAL  EXCURSION  ARRANGEMENTS,  Concluded. 
GUESTS  AND  LETTERS. 

When  the  liberality  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  Company 
had  been  taxed  quite  as  far  in  the  way  of  tickets  as  decency  would 
permit,  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  and  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Compa- 
nies issued  special  excursion  tickets  to  tlie  latter  point,  to  guests  invited 
by  those  companies.  At  Cincinnati  these  tickets  were  kindly  recog- 
nized by  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Company,  so  that  all  the  excursion- 
ists who  desired  were  enabled  to  go  to  St.  Louis  and  return.  The  fol- 
lowing circulars  to  invited  guests  were  issued  by  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  and  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  Companies: 

Baltimore  and  Ohio  Raii.p.oad  Co.,  I 
Baltimore,  May  13W,  IS.'iT.  J 

To 

Sin  : — The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  unithig  Cincinnati  and  St, 
Loui.<,  will  be  formally  opened  on  Thursday,  4th  of  June  next.  The  Marietta 
and  Cincinnati  Road,  which  connects  Cincinnati  with  the  Ohio  River,  near  the 
western  tcnniuu?  of  the  N.  W.  Va.  Branch  of  this  company's  road,  will  also  be 
opened  on  Tuesday,  2d  of  June. 

It  is  proposed  to  celebrate  at  the  same  time,  the  opening  of  the  branch 
road  of  104  miles  in  length, — which  unites  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  line  at 
Grafton,  (100  miles  east  of  Wheeling,)  with  Parkersburg  on  the  Ohio,  (96 
miles  below  Wheeling,)  and  which  forms  an  important  link  in  the  direct  line 
between  Baltimore  and  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis. 

You  are  respectfully  invited  to  make  one  of  the  company  on  this  occasion, 
and  to  participate  in  the  joint  incidents  and  ceremonies  attendant  upon 
the  trip. 

The  party  embraced  under  this  invitation  will  leave  Washington  at  6  A.  M., 
or  Baltimore  at  G.45  A.  M.,  on  Monday,  .June  1st,  and  reach  Cincinnati  on 
Wednesday  morning.  On  Thursday  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  trains  will  start 
at  an  early  hour  for  St.  Louis,  going  through  upon  the  same  day. 


126  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

It  is  necessary  for  us  to  know  before  Monday,  25tli  instant,  whether  or  not 
you  will  accompany  us.  The  invitation  is  not  transferable.  Your  acceptance 
in  wi'iting  of  this  invitation  will  be  followed  by  your  receipt  of  the  tickets  re- 
quired to  pass  you  through,  and  upon  your  return. 

^  On  behalf  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  of  the  Board  of  Directors, 

W.  P.  SMITH, 
Assistant  Master  of  Transportation, 


7b  Maeietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  Co.  ? 

ChilUcothe,  0.,  May  \Zth,  1S57.         i 

Sir  : — On  Tuesday,  the  2d  day  of  June  next,  it  is  proposed  to  celebrate 
the  opening  of  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  railroad.  The  N.  W.  Va.  Branch 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road  will  be  opened  at  the  same  time  ;  and  on 
Thursday,  June  4th,  the  opening  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Road  will  be 
celebrated, — the  three  new  roads  above  mentioned,  in  connection  with  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road,  forming  a  direct  line  between  Baltimore  and  St. 
Louis. 

The  Directors  of  this  company  will  be  pleased  to  have  you  make  one  of  the 
party  on  the  trip,  and  participate  in  the  joint  incidents  and  ceremonies  of  the 
occasion. 

The  guests  from  the  eastern  cities,  receiving  this  invitation,  will  leave 
Washington  at  6  A.  M.  or  Baltimore  at  6.45  A.M.,  on  Monday,  June  1st,  and 
reach  Cincinnati  on  Wednesday  morning.  The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  trains 
will  leave  Cincinnati  at  an  eai-ly  hour  on  Thursday,  and  go  through  to  St. 
Louis  the  same  day. 

As  only  a  limited  number  of  tickets  will  be  issued,  an  early  reply  to  this 
invitation  is  requested.  Your  acceptance  in  writing  should,  for  convenience, 
sake,  be  sent  previous  to  Monday,  25th  inst.,  to  W.  P.  Smith,  Esq.,  Assistant 
Master  of  Transportation  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Co.,  Baltimore, 
through  whom  the  tickets  necessary  to  pass  you  through  and  back,  will  be 
forwarded.     Tickets  are  not  transferable. 

N.  L.  Wilson,  John  Madeira, 

J.  P.  NiLES,  W.  S.  Nye, 

A.  Taft,  W.  p.  Cutler, 

S.  B.  Keyes,  Beman  Gates, 

Committee. 


Baltimokk  and  Ohio  Eailuoad  Co.,  ) 
Baltimore,  May  Ihth,  1S57.  \ 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements,  for  the  representation  of  this  road,  in 
the  opening  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  and  the  Marietta  and  Cinciiniati  Roads, 
and  the  inauguration  of  the  North- Western  Va.  or  "  Parkersburg  "  Road,  pro- 
pose the  following  Programme  : — 

The  guests  will  be  furnished  with  the  general  ticket  of  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi Road,  countersigned  by  this  company,  or  a  special  ticket  for  the  Ma- 
rietta and  Ciiioiimati  Road,  with  this  company's  endorsement,  which  will  pads 
thom  from  all  the  Eastern  cities  to  Cincinnati  by  this  route.  These  tickets 
will  be  good  upon  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road  from  Thursday,  28th  instant, 
to  Tuesday,  2d,  for  the  westward  trip,  and  eastvvardly  until  the  20th  of  June, 
upon  the  return  trip. 

The  delegations  specially  invited  by  this  company,  to  represent  it  on  the 


INVITATION  CARDS  OF  B.  AND  O.  AND  MARIETTA  ROADS.         12*7 

occasion,  will  leave  Camdeu  Station,  Baltimore,  on  Monday  morning,  1st  of 
June,  at  G  A.  M.,  precisely,  and  stop  over  night  at  Grafton  or  Parkersburg. 

The  tickets  being  good  from  the  28th  inst.,  their  holders  may  start  for 
Parkersburg  (or  Wheeling),  Marietta,  Chillicothe  or  Cincinnati,  by  any  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  trains  previous  to  Monday,  and  thus  avoid  the  crowd,  if 
they  so  desire. 

On  Tuesday  morning  early,  it  is  intended  to  proceed  from  Grafton  to  Park- 
ersburg over  the  X.  W.  Ya.  Road,  and  stopping  awhile  in  Parkersburg,  on  the 
Ohio,  proceed  upon  the  Steamboat  (that  connects  this  line  by  ferry  with  Ma- 
rietta), to  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad. 

The  guests  will  show  their  tickets  to  the  couductor  at  starting,  and  after- 
wards, whenever  called  upon  to  do  so.  J.  W.  Garkett, 

S.  A.  Leakin, 
J.  J.  Lawn, 
Comrmttee  of  Arrangements, 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  ticket  issued  by  these  companies  : — 
MARIETTA  AND  CINCIXXATI  R.  R.  OPENING. 

Pass  Mr. from  Parkersburg  to  Cincinnati,  on  the  occasion  of  the 

opening  of  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad,  on  the  2d  and  3d  Jime,  1857. 

Good  Westward  from  28th  of  May  to  June  3d,  inclusive  ;  and  good  Eastward, 
on  the  return,  from  4tli  to  20th  of  June,  1857,  inclusive. 

Tickets  are  not  transferable. 

N.  L.  Wilson,  Pres't.  Johx  Madkika, 

J.  S.  NiLES,  W.  S.  Nye, 

A.  Taft,  W.  p.  Cutler, 

S.  B.  Keyes,  Beman  Gates, 

George  Barnes,  Sup't,  Chillicothe.  Committee, 

This  ticket  was  endorsed  as  follows : — 

Baltimore,  ifay  'i.lth,  1S57. 
JT^"  This  ticket  is  good  for  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  including 
the  Washington  Branch,  and  the  N.  W.  Ya.  Railroad,  for  the  dates  specified  on 
the  face.  L.  JI.  Cole,  General  Tuket  Agent. 


The  following  is  a  list  of  the  persons  to  whom  invitations  were  ex- 
tended or  tickets  given  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Company: — 

Persons  invited  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  or  tlie  Marietta  and  Cin- 
cinnati Railroad  Company — or  by  both  Companies — as  their 
gnests  on  the  occasion  of  the  opening  of  the  Northwestern  Ya. 
Branch  and  the  Marietta  lioad,  June  1  and  2,  1857. 

President  and  Directors  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Company, 

CnATTNCY  Brooks,  President,  Baltimore. 

J.  P.  Brinkley,  " 

Francis  Burns,  " 

Darus  Carter,  " 

Allen  A.  Ciiarman,  " 

Benjamin  Deford,  " 

John  W.  Garrett,  " 


128 


GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 


John  S.  Gittings,  Baltimore. 

William  A.  Hack,  " 

John  Hendersox,            $  " 

Charles  D.  Hin:k:9,  " 

John  Hopkins,  " 

William  Lamping,  " 

James  J.  Lawx,  " 

Sheppaed  a.  Leakix,  " 

John  Spear  Nicholas,  " 

Columbus  O'Donnell,  " 

John  W.  Ross,  " 

J.  Irvine  Smith,  " 

Samuel  W.  Smith,  " 

Wesley  Starr,  " 

Robert  Turner,  " 

Nathan  Tyson,  " 

Joshua  Vansant,  " 

George  R.  Vickers,  " 

W.  LiNGAN  Gaither,  Eockville,  Md. 

Edward  Hammond,  Ellicott's  Mills,     Md. 

Ezra  Houck,  Frederick,               "■ 

Edward  M.  Mealet,  Hagerstown,           " 

James  M.  Schley,  Cumberland,           " 

Edward  Shriver,  Frederick,               " 

J  J.  Atkinson,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,      Baltimore. 

President  and  Directors  of  the  Northicesteryi  Company. 

P.  G.  Van  Winkle,  President,  Baltimore. 

Thomas  Swann,  " 

George  Brown,  " 

William  McKim,  " 

Charles  M.  Zeyser,  " 

James  Cook,  Parkersburg. 

John  R.  Murdoch,  " 

George  ISTeale,  " 

John  L.  Crawford,  Secretary,  Baltimore. 

Ex-Presidents  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company 

Philip  E.  Thomas,  Baltimore. 

Hon.  Louis  McLane,  " 

William  G.  Harrison,  " 

Hon.  Thomas  Swann,  " 


State  Authorities  of  Maryland. 

His  Excellency  T.  Watkins  Ligon,  Gov.,      Annapolis. 
Nathaniel  Cox,  Secretary  of  State,  " 

Dr.  Dennis  A.  Claude,  Treasurer,  '^ 

Hon.  George  Wells,  President  of  Senate,  " 

Hon.  William  H.  Traters,  Speaker  of  House 


of  Delegates, 


Baltimore. 


GUESTS    OF    BALTO.    AND    OHIO    AND    MARIETTA    ROADS.         129 

Judges  of  the  Court  of  AppeaU  of  Maryland. 

lion.  J.  C.  Legrand,  Annapolis. 

"    W.  C.  Tdck,  '• 

"    James  E.  Bartol,  " 

"    Judge  EccLESTox,  •' 

"    Samuel  A.  Spencer,  Clerk,  " 

State  Authorities  of  Virginia. 

His  Excellency  Henry  A.  Wise,  Governor. 
Hon.  Elisiia  W.  McComas   Lieut.-Governor. 
George  W.  Mumford,  Secretary  of  State. 
Wilms  P.  Bocock,  Attorney-General. 
John  S.  Calvert,  Treasurer. 

President  of  the  United  States  and  Cahinet. 

His  Excellency  James  Buchanan,  the  President. 
James  Buchanan  Henry,  Secretary  to  the  President. 
Hon.  Lewis  Cass,  Secretary  of  State. 

"■    Howell  Cobb,  Secretary  of  Treasury. 

''    John  B.  Floyd,  Secretary  of  War. 

"     Isaac  Toucey,  Secretary  of  Navy. 

"     Aaron  V.  Brown.  Postmaster-General. 

"    Jacob  Thompson,  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 

"    Jeremiah  Black,  Attorney-General. 

Foreign  Ministers. 

Lord  jSTapier,  British  Minister  at  Washington  and  Suite. 

M.  Le  Compte  de  Sartiges,  French  Minister  at  Washington,  and  his 

suite,  comprising  for  the  occasion  M.  Camille  Dollfuss  and  31. 

Alfred  Veaut. 
Edward  D.  Stockel,  Russian  Minister  at  Washington. 
Baron  Fr.  Von  Geroldt,  Prussian  Minister  at  Washington. 

Commissioners  of  Pullic  Worls  of  Maryland. 

Moore  N.  Falls,  Baltimore  City. 

George  Peter,  Montgomery  Co. 

Benjamin  Lankford,  Somerset  Co. 

Dr.  Joshua  R.  Nelson,  Harford  Co. 

Commissioners  of  Public  WorTcs  of  Virginia. 

Edward  J.  Armstrong,  Taylor  Co. 

Thomas  J.  Boyd,  Wythe  Co. 

Alexander  R.  IIoi.liday,  Henrico  Co. 

Wm.  R.  Drinkhard,  Secretary. 

City  Authorities  of  Balthnoi'e. 

Hon.  Thomas  Swann,     ....  Mayor. 

William  Thompson", Secretary  to  the  Mayoralty. 

John  A.  Thompson, Register. 

6* 


130 


GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 


Members  of  the  First  Branch  of  the  City  Council. 


John  F.  MoJilton,  President, 

Frederick  S.  Tdener, 

M.  A.  Daiger, 

Phillip  H.  Muller, 

Frederick  Pinkney, 

F.  H.  B.  ]5oYD, 

Jacob  Green, 

Henry  Forrest, 

John  B.  Tidy, 

John  Iv.  Carroll, 


Benjamin  F.  Nalls, 
.  Frank  Key  Howard, 
John  T.  Ford, 
T.  Oswald  Wilson, 
Henry  Handy, 
F.  0.  Crowley, 
J.  Heni;y  Travers. 
Joshua  H.  Hynes, 
Daniel  Haryey, 
Thomas  Sewell,  Jiui. 


John  Bunting,  John  N.  Wright,  and  Allen  E.  Forrester,  Clerks. 
A.  J.  Bandell  and  John  Ivitts,  Door  Keepers. 

Menibers  of  the  Second  Branch  of  the  City  Council. 
John  B.  Seidenstricker,  Pres.,       Alexander  B.  Gordon, 


Edward  Horney, 
George  W.  Horring, 
Samuel  Kirk, 
Dr.  F.  E.  B.  Hintze, 


John  R.  Kelso, 
Joseph  Simms, 
Lemuel  Bierbower, 
Robert  Sulliyan. 


City  Authorities  of  Wheeling,  Virginia. 

A.  Caldwell, Mayor. 

City  Council. 

Henry  Hubbard,  A.  J.  Pannell, 

Z.  Jacob,  Thomas  Sweeny, 

Daniel  List,  O.  B.  Taylor, 

F.  McNagiiten,  James  Tanner, 

Frederick  Norton,  N.  Wilkinson, 

J.  H.  Pendleton,  Andrew  Wilson, 

J.  W.  Paxton,  a.  p.  AYoods. 


J.  M.  Bickell, 
Isaac  Cotts, 
John  Clayton, 
Charles  B.  Cecil, 
Benjamin  Exley, 
E.  H.  Fitzhugh, 
T.  J.  Gardner, 
a.  S.  Hallo  well, 

Miscellaneous  List. 

Professor  John  H.  Alexander,  Baltimore. 
"  American"  (Editor),  " 

William  IL  Appleton,  New  York. 

J.  AcHisoN,  Wheeling. 

William  Meade  Addison,  Baltimore. 

Wm.  J.  Albert,  Baltimore. 

Hon.  William  Aiken,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

"Albion  "  (Editor),  New  York. 

"  Argus  "  (Editor),  Wheeling. 

J.  S.  Atwood,  New  York. 

Hon.  George  Bancroft,  New  York. 

Hon.  Thomas  H.  Benton,  Washington. 

Professor  A.  D.  Baoue,  Washington, 

JosiAH  Bacon,  Philadelphia. 

Hon.  Erastus  Brooks  (Editor),  New  York. 
Hon.  James  Brooks  (Editor),  *' 


GUESTS    OF   BALTO.    AND    OHIO    AKD    MARIKTTA   ROADS.        131 


James  G.  Benxett  (Editor), 

J.  H.  BlNGnUEST, 

James  Black, 

William  Bose, 

Hon.  Joiix  M.  BoTTs, 

Captain  Bowman,  U.  S.  A. 

Bkeese,  Kxeelaxd  &  Co. 

S.  Bkady, 

William  E.  Bartlett, 

Henry  P.  Brooks, 

David  S.  Brown, 

John  C,  Bruxe, 

"Evening  Bulletin"  (Editors), 

Wash.  Butcher, 

William  F.  Burns, 

Samuel  Burns, 

Rev.  G.  W.  Burnap, 

John  Bolgiaxo, 

John  H.  Barnes, 

A.  r.  Brengle, 

D.  L.  Bartlett, 
Hugh  Lennox  Bond, 
Joseph  H.  Boyd, 
Wm.  J.  Bryson, 

Dr.  H.  W.  Baxley, 
Wm.  N.  Brice, 

St.  George  Campbell, 
G.  W.  Carpenter, 
Hon.  J.  R.  Chandler, 
Hon.  Rufus  Choate, 
Lewis  Gaylord  Clark, 
"  Clipper  "  (Editor), 
G.  S.  CoE, 

John  Cochrane  (Editor),' 
John  T.  Crow  (Editor), 
Samuel  Coluoun, 
H.  B.  Cromwell, 
George  Cassard, 

E.  r.  Church  (Editor), 
W.  F.  CoMLY  (Editor), 
John  Coates, 

Danforth,  Cooke  &  Co., 
R.  T.  Daniels  (Editor), 
J.  S.  Darcy, 

Hon.  Henry  Winter  Davis, 
J.  D.  B.  De  Bow  (Editor), 

W.  H.  DUNDAS, 

E.  H.  Derby, 
Isaac  Deford, 
Robert  A.  Dobbin, 


New  York. 

Philadelpliia. 

Lancaster,  Pa. 

Baltimore. 

Richmond. 

Wasliington. 

Jersey  City, 

Wlieeling. 

Baltimore. 

u 

Philadelphia. 

Baltimore. 

Philadelphia. 

a 

Baltimore. 


Philadelphia. 


Boston. 
New  York. 
Baltimore. 
New  York. 

Baltimore. 
Philadelphia. 
New  York. 
Baltimore. 
Baltimore  Co. 
Dayton,  duo. 
Baltimore. 

Paterson,  N.  J, 
Richmond. 
Newark,  N.  J, 
Baltimore. 
Washington. 

Boston. 

Baltimore. 


132 


GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILKOAD    OPENING. 


John  Dukehakt, 
Andrew  W.  Dennison, 
Charles  A.  Dana  (Editor), 

Hon.  Edward  Everett, 
Alexander  Evans  (Editor), 
V.  Ellis  (Editor),^ 
C.  J.  M.  Eaton, 
John  H.  Ehlen, 

John  Farntim, 

Peter  Farnum, 

Dr.  L.  W.  ForLKE, 

Hon.  Charles  J.  Faulkner, 

Saml.  M.  Felton, 

Thomas  J.  Feenon  (Editor), 

Thomas  J.  Firth, 

W.  B.  Foster,  Jun. 

EoBERT  Fowler, 

Ed.  Fulton  (Editor), 

Hon.  W.  F.  Giles, 

Parke  Godwin  (Editor), 

Hon.  Horace  Greeley  (Editor), 

Wm  S.  Gittings, 

J.  W.  Guest, 

H.  Groverman, 

H.  iST.  Gallaher  (Editor), 

Dr.  JuDSON  Gilman, 

l.  w.  cosnell, 

Charles  G.  Griffith, 

Nathan  Hale  (Editor), 

Col.  W.  A.  Harris  (Editor), 

Hon.  J.  Morrison  Harris, 

Charles  Uartwell, 

Thomas  E.  Hambleton, 

Herman  Haupt, 

Major  J.  P.  Heiss  (Editor), 

Prof.  Joseph  Henry, 

Editor  "  Herald," 

Hon.  W.  L.  Hodge, 

Hon.  S.  OwixGs  Hoffman, 

Jesse  Hunt. 

Editor  "  Home  Journal," 

J.  A.  Hovey, 

George  Howell, 

Hon.  R.  ;M.  T.  Hunter, 

John  A.  Haven  (Editor), 

L.  A.  Hyde, 

Gustavus  R.  Henderson, 

Dr.  J.  W.  HoucK, 

Jas.  a.  Hoopeb, 


Baltimore. 

u 

New  York. 

Boston. 
Washington. 
Washington. 
Baltimore. 


Philadelphia. 

Carlisle,  Pa. 
Martinsburg,  Va. 
Philadelphia. 


Baltimore. 

(I 
New  York. 

Baltimore. 


Charlestown,  Va. 
Baltimore. 


Boston, 

Washington. 

Baltimore. 

Richmond,  Va. 

Baltimore, 

Philadelphia. 

Washington. 

u 

NeAv  York, 
Washington. 
Baltimore. 

u 

New  York. 
Norwich,  Conn. 
Philadelphia. 
Lloyd's  P.  O.,  Va. 
Boston, 

Norwich,  Conn. 
Baltimore, 


GUESTS    OF    BALTO.    AND    OHIO    AND    MARIETTA    KOAUS.        133 


Dr.  S.  II.  Ik'NT, 

Sphigg  Harwood, 

Samuel  Hecston  (Publisher), 

Dr.  James  Higgiks, 

Washington  Ieving, 
Editor  "  Inquirek," 
"      "  Intelligencer," 

John  P.  Jacksont, 

Charles  Johnson, 

Frank  Johnson, 

lion.  Reverb Y  Johnson, 

Hon.  James  C.  Jones  (of  Tenn.) 

Thomas  C.  James, 

John  H.  T.  Jerome, 

Hon.  John  P.  Kennedy, 
Hon.  Anthony  Kennedy, 
II.  F.  Kenney, 
Kimball  &  Gorton, 
Col.  Anthony  Kimmel, 
Hon.  Jonathan  Knight, 
"William  H.  Keighlee, 
II.  F.  Jackson, 
Colonel  J.  M.  Kunkel, 
Francis  T.  King, 

Hon.  Z.  KiDWELL, 

E.  Kingman  (Editor), 
A7iLLiAM  Knabe, 

Benjamin  II.  Latrobe, 
J.  H.  B.  Latrobe, 
J.  F.  D.  Lanier, 
Charles  Lanman, 

D.  Lamb, 

E.  A.  Larned, 
Thomas  Leatu, 
II.  J.  Lombaert, 
E.  Ludlow, 
William  M.  Lyon, 
Edward  S.  Lamdin, 
Clinton  Levering, 
IIoD.  Z.  Collins  Lee, 

Hon.  Charles  Mason, 

Hon.  J.  Thompson  Mason, 

William  Mason  &  Co., 

Hon.  J.  M.  Mason, 

C.  L.  Mather, 

K.  A.  McAllister, 


Baltimore. 
Annapolis,  Md. 
Kew  York. 


New  York. 

Philadelphia. 
Wheeling. 

New  York, 
Norwich,  Conn. 

Baltimore. 

WasliingtOD. 

Baltimore. 


Baltimore, 

u 

Philadelphia, 

Frederick  Co.,  Md. 
East  Betlileheiu,  Pa. 
Baltimore. 


\a. 


Frederick. 
Baltimore. 
Marion  Co 
Washington. 
Baltimore, 

Baltimore. 


New  York. 

Washington. 
Wheeling. 
Norwich  (Conn.) 
Philadelphia. 
Altoona,  Pa. 
New  York. 
Philadelphia. 
Baltimore, 


Washington. 
Baltimore. 
Taunton  (Mass.) 
Winchester,  Va. 
New  York. 
Baltimore. 


134 


GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 


Lieut.  M.  F.  Mauey,  U.  S.  K, 

Brantz  Mayer, 

E.  D.  Mansfield  (Editor), 

Thomas  Mellon, 

Captain  M.  C.  Meigs,  U.  S.  A., 

Hon.  W.  M.  Meredith, 

Samuel  V.  Merrick, 

Edward  Miller, 

Hon.  Fayette  McMullen, 

H.  Moore, 

H.  M.  MORFIT, 

Colonel  S.  C.  Morgan, 

C.  H.  MUNROE  &  Co., 
Dr.  Samuel  H.  Martin, 
Hon.  J.  V.  L.  MoMahon, 
Hon.  E.  M.  MoLane, 
James  Murray, 
Henry  D.  Mears, 
Morton  McMichael  (Editor), 
John  T.  Mitchell, 
Dr.  Charles  McGill, 

J.  C.  NicoDEMtrs, 

Editor  "  Patriot," 
Colonel  W.  C.  Patterson, 
George  Peabody  (of  London), 
Hon.  James  A.  Pearce, 
Editors,  "  Pennsylvanian," 
Charles  H.  Pitts, 
Editors,  "  Evening  Post," 
Roger  A.  Pryor  (Editor), 
E.  W.  Perry,  " 

Israel  M.  Parr, 
Neilson  Poe, 
William  Parker, 
Hon.  Charles  A.  Phelps, 
Enoch  Pratt, 
George  U.  Porteiv, 

Editor  "Republican." 
John  C.  Rives  (Publisher), 
Hon.  AV.  C.  Rives, 
Edwin  Robinson, 
MoNOURE  Robinson, 
Rogers  Machine  Shop, 
J.  Dixon  Roman, 
Henry  R.  Reynolds, 
Joiix  Ritchie, 
Alfred  H.  Rkip, 
JouN  W.  Randolph, 


Washinjcton. 

New  Orleans. 

Cincinnati. 

Philadelphia. 

Washington. 

Philadelphia. 


Virginia. 
Wheeling, 
Baltimore. 
Norwich  (Conn.) 
Newburg,  N.  Y. 
Baltimore. 


Philadelphia. 

Baltimore. 

Cumberland. 

Baltimore. 

Baltimore. 
Philadelphia, 
Baltimore. 
Chestertown,  Md, 
Pliiladelphia. 
Baltimore. 
New  York. 
Richmond. 

a 

Baltimore. 

u 

Boston. 

a 

Baltimore. 


Baltimore. 
Washington. 
Albemarle  C.  H.,  Va, 

Richmond. 

u 

Paterson,  N.  J. 

Baltimore. 

(I 

Frederick,  Md. 
Baltimore. 


GUESTS    OF    BALTO.    AND    OHIO    AND    MARIETTA    ROADS. 


135 


AYm.  Smitif  Reese, 
Robert  Ridgaway  (Editor), 
Wm.  F.  Ritchie  (Editor), 

Colonel  W.  W.  Seaton  (Editor), 
Victor  Smith,  " 

Richard  Smith,  " 

James  W.  Simonton,  " 

Samuel  Sands,  " 

Thomas  I).  Sultzer,  " 

Wm.  B.  Shaw,  " 

Editor  "  Sun," 
Jos.  R.  Snyder, 
Wm.  B.  Slack, 
Edmund  Smith, 

C.  E.  Si'ANGLER, 

E.  A.  Stevens, 
Gen.  Grorge  H.  Stuart, 
Charles  D.  Slingluff, 
S.  M.  Shoemaker, 
Thomas  W.  Saunders, 
Thomas  Sweeney, 
William  Swinburne, 
Frederick  Schley, 
Glendy  Stuart, 
Lawrence  Sangston, 
Thomas  Sheppard, 
Col.  J.  H.  Sullivan, 

Hon.  Roger  B.  Taney, 
P.  B.  Taylor, 
Hon.  Philip  F.  Thomas, 
Hon.  R.  W.  Thompson, 
J.  Edgar  Thompson, 
John  R.  Thompson  (Editor), 
W.  R.  Thompson, 
Editors  "  Daily  Times," 

"      "  Times," 

"       "Tribune," 
Hon.  Robert  Toombs, 
Robert  Tyson, 
E.  A.  Talbott, 
James  E.  Tyson, 
Jacob  Trust, 
William  A.  Talbott, 
Charles  E.  Traill, 
Thomas  Trotten, 
C.  W.  Tayleure  (Editor), 
William  N.  Tuttle,  " 

Hon.  S.  F.  Vinton, 

B.  A.  ViOKEKS, 


Baltimore. 
Riclnnoud,  Va. 

Washington. 

Cincinnati. 

u 

New  York. 

Baltimore. 

u 

Washington. 
Baltimore. 


Philadelphia. 

u 

Hoboken,  N.  J. 
Baltimore. 


Wheeling. 
Paterson,  N.  J. 
Frederick,  Md. 
Baltimore, 


Bellaire,  O. 

Washington. 

Wheeling. 

Baltimore. 

Washington. 

Piiiladelphia. 

Richmond. 

Piiiladelphia. 

New  York. 

Wheeling. 

New  York. 

Washington,  Geo. 

Baltimore. 


Frederick,  Md. 
Baltimore. 


Washington. 
Baltimore. 


136 


GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 


W.  D.  'WALLAcn  (Editor), 
S.  Teackle  Wallis, 

Hon.  EoBEPuT  0.  WlXTIIROP, 

James  Watsox  Webb  (Editor), 

Thomas  Wixans, 

Benjamin  H.  Williams, 

J.  H.  White, 

MiLTOx  Whitxey, 

E.  S.  Wheelax, 

Samuel  T.  Williams  (Editor), 

Caspar  Wevee, 

James  Wixslovv, 

L.  WooDErFF  (Editor), 

R.  H.  Wix'SLow, 

JOHX  T.  WiLMOT, 

George  A.  Warder, 
Hiram  Woods, 
William  Pixckney  Whyte, 
Hexey  Webster, 
Alexander  Walker  (Editor), 
H.  H.  Young  (Editor), 


Washington. 
Baltimore. 
Boston. 
New  York. 
Baltimore. 

a 

New  York. 
Baltimore. 
Philadelphia. 
AV"ashington, 
Weverton,  Md. 
New  York. 
Cincinnati. 
New  York. 
Baltimore. 


Cincinnati. 
Baltimore. 


In  answer  to  the  invitations  issued,  numerous  letters  were  received 
in  reply  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Company,  from  Avhich  we  select 
the  following  for  publication : — 

[^From  the  Originator  and  First  President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail  road. '\ 

Baltimore,  5  Mo.  20,  1857. 
W.  P.  Smith,  Esq. 

Esteemed  Friend: — I  have  received  thy  uote  of  the  13th  inst.,  enclosing  an 
invitation  from  the  Committee  of  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Company  to  at- 
tend the  celebration  of  Opening  the  Marietta  Railroad,  and  the  opening  of 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Road,  in  connection  witli  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio, 
forming  a  direct  hne  of  railroad  between  BaUimore  and  St.  Lonis. 

I  regret  that  it  will  not  be  in  my  power  to  be  present  on  that  interesting 
occasion,  having  been  confined  for  several  weeks  by  a  severe  illness,  from 
■which  1  am  now  very  slowly  recovering.  Do  me  the  favor  to  malie  my  ac- 
knowledgment to  the  committee  who  have  sent  tlie  invitation,  and  assure  them 
of  my  cordial  congratulation  upon  the  trium pliant  success  tliat  has  crowned 
their  labors,  which  will,  I  trust,  in  connection  with  other  similar  avenues  of  in- 
tercourse, open  and  secure  to  our  extended  country  the  facilities  of  social  and 
commercial  intercommunication  incident  to  a  small  island,  and  thus  unite  us  as 
one  family  with  one  common  interest. 

Accept  the  assurance  of  my  esteem,  and  beUeve  me  to  be 

Very  trulv, 

P.  E.  THOMAS. 


iFrom,  Hon.  Louis  McLane,  Second  President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad.'] 

Baltimore,  May  \^th,  1857. 
W.  P.  Smith,  Esq. 

Decur   Sir: — I   make  you  my  thanks  for   the   invitation  so  politely   sent 


l-ETTEKS    FROM    INVITED    GUESTS.  I,'j7 

me  to  attend  the  celebration  of  the  opening  of  tlie  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rail- 
road, the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad,  and  of  the  branch  road  uniting  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Line  at  Grafton  A\-ith  Parkersbnrg. 

From  the  uniform  interest  I  have  taken  in  the  success  of  these  enterprises, 
it  would  afford  me  pleasure  to  attend  the  celebration  on  the  occasion  of  their 
opening,  but  must  regret  that  engagements  already  made  ■will  prevent  me  from 
doing  so. 

I  remain,  dear  sir,  respectfully, 

LOUIS  McLAXE. 


[^From  the  Fourth  President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.'\ 

jMoust  Veknon  Place,  Baltisiore,  May  22,  1857. 
M'.  P.  Smith,  Esq  ,  Ass.  M.  T.,  B.  &  0.  R.  R. 

Sir  : — I  acknowledge  your  kind  note  enclosing  an  invitation  to  attend  the 
opening  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  on  1st  June  next. 

A  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  coal  company  of  which  I  have  charge, 
upon  the  1st  June,  the  same  day,  compels  me  to  forego  the  pleasure  held 
forth  by  the  Committee's  invitation,. 

I  enclose  a  note  for  the  Committee  of  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  invitation,  as 
requested  in  their  note,  which  please  forward. 

Very  tnily, 

WM.  G.  HARRISON. 


[^From  the  Governor  of  Maryland.'\ 

Annapolls,  Md.,  May  20th,  1857. 
W.  P.  Smith,  Esq.,  A.  M.  Transp. 

Dear  Sir : — I  am  honored  by  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  13th  instant, 
inviting  me  to  be  present  at  the  opening  of  the  ilarietta  and  Cincinnati  and  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroads,  and  to  participate  in  the  joint  incidents  and 
ceremonies  attendant  upon  the  trip. 

With  a  very  great  desire  to  join  you  on  this  interesting  and  instructive  ex- 
cursion, I  am  compelled  by  circumstances  which  I  cannot  control,  to  deny 
myself  this  pleasure. 

Respectfully, 

T.  WATIONS  LIGOX. 


[^From  the  Judges  of  Maryland  Court  of  Appeals.'] 

Ann^vpolis,  May  21,  1857. 
Dear  Sir : — ^AVe  have  been  honored  by  the  polite  invitation  of  your  Com- 
pany, covering  one  from  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  Company,  to 
join  in  the  celebration  of  the  opening  of  new  communications  with  the  West, 
and  have  felt  much  difficulty  in  deciding  not  to  avail  ourselves  of  it ;  but  we 
liave  been  forced  to  do  so  by  the  pressure  of  our  official  business  at  this  place. 
Our  court  is  now  in  session,  and  the  next  term  will  commence  on  1st  of  June. 
A\'erc  it  not  for  this  latter  circumstance,  we  would  most  gladly  avail  ourselves 
of  your  kind  invitation. 

With  thanks  for  your  consideration. 

We  are,  respectfully  yours, 

J.  C.  LEGRAND. 
J.  B.  ECCLESTON. 
W.  P.  Smith,  Esq.,  Baltimore.  J.  L.  BARTOL. 


138  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

[From  the  Governor  of  Virffinia.'] 

Richmond,  Va.,  May  20th,  1857. 
W.  P.  Smith,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir : — I  regret  that  it  will  not  be  in  my  power  to  attend  your  pro- 
posed trip  to  the  opening  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  and  the  Marietta  and  Cin- 
cinnati Railroad,  the  2d  and  4th  day  of  June  next. 

I  shall  then  be  in  the  extreme  east  of  this  State  on  private  business.  But 
to  manifest  the  deep  interest  I  take  in  the  western  works,  and  in  the  connec- 
tion of  Virginia's  works  with  them,  I  enclose  you  a  pamphlet  copy  of  a  cor- 
respondence I  have  lately  had  on  the  subject. 

Veiy  truly  yours, 

HENRY  A.  WISE. 


[Fivm  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  Sfates.l 

Washington,  J/mj  20th,  1857. 
Sir : — The  invitations  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  and 
the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  Company,  to  attend  the  celebration 
mentioned  in  their  invitations,  Avere  not  received  until  to-day,  and  I  hasten  to 
retui-u  my  thanks  for  the  honor  they  have  done  me,  and  regret  that  my  ad- 
vanced age  and  official  engagements  put  it  out  of  my  power  to  accept  them. 
I  am,  with  much  respect,  your  obdt.  servt., 

R.  B.  TANEY. 
To  W.  P.  Smith,  Esq.,  Camden  Station,  Bait. 


[From  Senator  Peakce,  of  Maryland.'] 

Chestertown,  ^fatj  21,  1857. 
My  dear  Sir : — The  excursion  to  which  I  am  invited  by  your  note  of  the 
13th,  to  become  a  party,  would  of  itself  be  one  of  much  and  varied  interest  to 
me,  and  the  occasion  it  is  to  celebrate  is  of  great  commercial  and  national  im- 
portance. I  should  hke  to  join  the  pai-ty  which  is  going,  but  I  have  so  long 
been  accustomed  to  give  up  my  personal  wishes  and  pleasure  to  the  duties 
which  I  owe  to  others,  that  the  self-denial  ceases  to  be  a  merit  in  me. 
I  acknowledge  the  compliment  of  the  roads'  invitation,  and  remain 

Very  truly  yours, 
W.  P.  Smith,  Esq.  J.  A.  PEARCE. 


[From  the  United  States  Commissioner  of  Patents.] 

United  States  Patent  Office,  Washington,  B   C, 
23d  May,  1857. 
Dear  Sir : — ^I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  circular 
letter  of  the  13th  inst.,  inviting  me  to  join  in  the  opening  of  several  railroads 
constituting  links  in  the  chain  connecting  Baltimore  Avith  St.  Louis. 

I  was  in  hopes  I   should  be  able  to  avail   myself  of  that  invitation,  and 
promised  myself  much  pleasure  irom  being  one  of  the  party  on  the  occasion,  but 
I  shall  have  to  yield  to  the  necessity  which   requires  my  pi-esence  elsewhere. 
Please  convey  my  acknowledgments  to  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  and 
my  regrets  at  not  behig  able  to  avail  myself  of  their  polite  invitation. 

Very  truly  yours,  «S:c., 
To  W.  P.  Smith,  Esq.,  Baltimore.  CHARLES  MASON. 


LETTERS    FROM    INVITED    GUESTS.  139 

[From  the  Han.  REncRDY  Joiixson,  of  Maryland.'] 

Baltimore,  19?/(  J/ny,  1857. 
Mu  dear  Sir: — I  am  most  reluctantly  compelled  to  decline  the  invitations 
with  which  your  Company  and  others  have  honored  me,  to  the  contemplated 
railroad  celebrations  at  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis.  This  I  am  forced  to  do  by 
professional  engagements  of  moment  to  my  clients,  which  I  am  not  at  liberty  to 
neglect  and  am  unable  to  postpone. 

Xothiiig  could  have  afforded  me  more  pleasure  than  to  have  been  one  of 
the  organs  of  your  Company,  to  have  set  before  those  who  will  be  assembled  at 
Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis  the  immense  advantages,  pecuniarily,  socially  and 
politically,  involved  in  your  great  route,  bcgim  as  it  was  in  a  spirit  of  enlight- 
ened enterprise,  and  pressed  to  completion  amidst  unexampled  difficulties,  now 
snccessfully  overcome,  and  adding  to  the  worth  of  our  State  beyond  even  the 
power  of  figm-es  to  estimate,  whilst  serving  materially  to  strengthen  the  bonds 
which  tie  us  together  as  one  people.  It  is  idle,  however,  to  lament  the  in- 
evitable, and  I  submit  to  the  disappointment  as  well  as  I  can. 

Yours,  with  reiiard, 
W.  P.  Smith,  Esq.  REVERDY  JOHNSON. 


[From  the  Hon.  Jonx  M.  Botts,  of  Virginia.'] 

Richmond,  2Tmj  22d,  1857. 
W.  P.  Smith,  Esq. 

Bear  Sir : — On  my  return  home  this  p.  m.  after  a  few  days'  absence,  I 
find  an  invitation  from  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  through  you,  to  be  one 
of  the  company  who  will  participate  in  the  celebration  proposed,  on  the  opening 
of  the  lines  of  railroad  from  Grafton  through  Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis. 

I  can  readily  anticipate  the  lively  satisfaction  that  will  be  derived  from  the 
trip  and  incidents  connected  with  it  by  all  those  whose  patriotic  impulses  iivill 
be  exerted  in  behalf  of  those  great  lines  of  intercommunication  which  serve  to 
connect  the  different  States  of  the  Union  as  one  family,  and  which  by  the 
facilities  of  intercourse  they  furnish,  must  tend  in  a  large  degree  to  depre- 
cate those  uncontrollable  and  unnatural  prejudices  which  mischievous  dema- 
gogues are  eternally  laboring  to  promote.  Professing  to  feel  a  profound  soli- 
citude on  this  subject  myself,  it  is  with  great  regret  that  I  am  compelled  to 
deny  myself  the  privilege,  so  kindly  tendered. 

With  my  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  all  the  lines  to  be  opened,  as  well  as 
of  those  which  they  connect, 

I  am  yom*  obliged  and  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  BOTTS. 


[From  Hon.  Joseph  R.  Chandler,  of  Pennsylvania.] 

Philadelphia,  ^fay  20th,  1857. 
Dear  Sir : — I  regret  that  engagements  of  an  imperative  character  will  not 
allow  me  to  accept  the  invitation  to  the  opening  of  the  \\'e5tern  Railroads.  The 
enterprise  that  thus  strengthens  the  social  relations  of  different  parts  of  the 
country,  is  working  out  wealth  and  character  for  the  East,  while  it  is  giving 
population  to  the  West,  and  the  patriot  must  view  the  operations  of  that  enter- 
prise with  as  high  satisfaction  as  is  felt  by  the  man  of  business. 

With  thanks  for  your  kind  invitation,  and  wishes  for  the  success  of  your 
•undertaldng,  I  am,  with  great  respect, 

Your  friend  and  servant, 
V,\  P.  Smith,  Esq.  JOS.  R.  CHANDLER. 


140  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING, 

[From  the  Hon.  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  of  Massachusetts.'] 

Boston,  Mass.,  May  ISfh,  1857. 
3f>/  Dear  Sir: — Your  obliging  commiinicatiou,  inviting  me  to  the  opening 
of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  was  received  this  morning.     I  pray  you 
to  present  my  most  grateful  acknowledgments  to  the  Committees  of  Arrange- 
ments, whom  you  represent,  and  to  assure  them  of  my  sincere  regret  at  being 
unable  to  join  them  on  so  interesting  an  occasion.     My  engagements  at  home 
will  not  allow  me  to  think  of  it,  and  I  can  only  offer  you  these  off-hand  con- 
gratulations on  the  completion  of  so  important  a  line  of  railroad  communica- 
tion. Believe  me,  Dear  Sir,  very  respectfully  and  truly, 
Yom-  obliged  and  obedient  servant, 
W.  P.  Smith,  Esq.  ROBT.  C.  WINTHROP. 


[From  the  Hon.  Sam'l  F.  Vinton,  of  Ohio. 

Washington,  D.  C,  May  \^th,  1857. 
Dear  Sir: — I  received  by  yesterday's  mail,  through  the  Committee  of  the 
Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  Company,  your  letter  inviting  me  to  make  one 
of  your  companj^  and  to  participate  in  the  joint  incidents  and  ceremonies  at- 
tendant upon  the  trip,  on  the  interesting  occasion  of  celebrating  the  opening  of 
the  several  lines  of  road  whicli  unite  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  line,  at  Grafton, 
with  the  river  Mississippi,  at  St.  Louis. 

Please  accept  my  thanks  for  your  kind  invitation,  Avith  an  assurance  that 
it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  accept  it  if  indispensable  engagements  did 
not  forbid  my  doing  so. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  yours, 
W.  P.  SmTH,  Esq.,  Baltimore.  S.  F.  VINTON. 


[From  George  Peaeody,  of  London.']  * 

Baltimore,  May  Idth,  1857. 
Wm.  p.  Smith,  Esq.,  Assistant  Mast.  Transp. 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 
Dear  Sir : — I  have  been  honored  by  j'our  kind  invitation  to  take  part  in 
celebrating  the  opening  of  the  ]\Iarietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad,  on  the  2d  of 
June,  and  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  on  the  4th  of  June,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  important  branch  of  your  own  road  from  Grafton  to  Parkersburg. 

It  would  have  given  me  much  pleasure  to  be  present  on  this  great  and  in- 
teresting occasion,  if  my  time  would  permit ;  but  my  engagements  to  the 
eastward  ft'ill  prevent,  and  I  can  only  wish  that  the  event  will  pass  satisfac- 
torily, and  that  success  will  ever  attend  this  important  line  of  railroad. 

Very  respectfully  and  truly  yours, 
GEORGE  PEABODY. 


[From  the  Historian  (fthe  United  States.] 

New  York,  3Iay  19^^,  1857. 
3fy  Dear  Sir: — I  have  already  accepted  an  invitation  from  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Railroad  Company,  and  my  plan  is  to  reach  Cincinnati  on  Satur- 
day night,  Maj'  oOth,  and  await  there  the  arrival  of  the  train. 

If  I  proceed  to  Cincinnati  by  the  route  dear  above  all  others  for  grand 
scenery,  what  train  had  I  better  take,  and  where  can  I  stop  over  night,  so  as 


LETTERS    FROM    INVITED    GUESTS.  141 

to  reach  Cincinnati,  travelling  all  the  ^vay  by  daylight,  and  reaching  there  on 
Saturday,  May  3()th  ? 

Our  June  trip  of  last  year,  upon  your  road,  was  most  delightful. 

Yours  very  truly, 
PRE>coTr  Smith,  GEORGE  BANCROFT. 

Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  Baltimore. 


[From  Washington  Irving,  the  American  Author."] 

Sunny  Side,  June  Qfh,  1857. 
Prescott  Smith,  Esq.,  Assistant  M.  T.,  Baltimore. 

Dear  Sir: — The  invitation  with  which  you  have  honored  me,  on  behalf  of 
the  Committees  of  Arrangements,  to  attend  the  celebration  of  the  opening  of 
the  railroads,  though  dated  on  the  loth  Jlay,  did  not  reach  me  until  this 
morning,  owing  probably  to  its  being  misdirected. 

I  beg  you  to  communicate  this  circumstance  to  the  Committe  of  Arrange- 
ment in  explanation  of  my  not  having  duly  replied  to  their  very  obliging  invi- 
tation, which  it  would  have  given  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  accept. 

Very  respectfuUv,  your  obedient  servant, 

WASHINGTON  IRVING. 


[From  the  Editor  of  the  Knickerbocker  Magazine.] 

Knickerbocker  Sanctum,  Cedar  Hill,  Cottage,  ) 
ON  THE  Hudson,  May,  1857.  5 

W.  P.  Smith,  Esq. 

Ah !  my  dear  sir,  icouldrHl  I  like  to  be  one  of  your  splendid  party,  on  a 
fine  grand  route,  and  a  noble  road  ?  But  "  what's  the  use  ?"  I  can't ;  and 
labor,  hard  labor,  is  my  excuse.  "  Excuse  ?"'  I  don't  mean  excuse  ;  I  mean 
my  deep  regret. 

With  many  thanks  to  you,  personally,  for  your  kindness,  which  I  shall  be 
glad  to  reciprocate,  let  me  ask  you  to  substitute  for  me,  my  publisher,  jNIr.  S. 
Hueston.  He  will  furnish  notes,  and  although  not  as  good-looking,  nor  as 
cute,  as  I  am,  is  yet  a  law-abiding  citizen,  and  a  temperate.  His  habits  are 
not  carnivorous.  He  drinks  water  and  lives  on  "  garden  saas "  and  apples. 
But  he  will  do  his  duty,  and  duly  report. 

Yours  with  thanks, 

L.  GAYLORD  CLARK. 


[From  one  of  the  Editors  of  the  Xatlmal  Intelligencer.'] 

Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.  21st,  1857. 
My  drnr  Sir : — I  feel  so  much  regret  at  being  obliged  to  decline  the  kind 
in-\ntation  to  the  great  St.  Louis  celebration  with  which  I  have  been  honored, 
that  I  liave  put  ofi^  from  day  to  day,  the  reluctant  task  of  saying  that  it  will 
be  out  of  my  power  to  join  in  the  joyous  excursion,  happy  as  I  should  be  to  do 
so  under  circumstances  less  unpropitious  than  those  which  now  forbid  me. 
With  grateful  thanks  to  the  committees  and  yourself  for  your  politeness, 
I  remain,  my  dear  sir,  yours  sincerely, 
W.  Prescott  Smith,  Esq.,  Baltimore,  Md.  W.  W.  SEATON. 


142  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

\_From  the  Editor  of  the  Boston  Daily  Advertiser.'] 

Boston,  May  2Sd,  1857. 
W.  P.  Smith,  Esq.,  Baltimore. 

Dear  Sir: — I  beg  leave  to  express,  tlirough  yon,  to  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements for  the  celebration  of  the  formal  opening  of  the  Cincinnati  and  St. 
Louis,  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati,  and  the  North-western  Virginia  branch  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroads,  my  most  respectful  acknowledgments  for 
the  honor  of  an  invitation  to  participate  in  the  incidents  of  so  interesting  a 
celebration.  It  would  give  me  great  pleasure,  were  it  in  my  power,  to  be 
present  at  the  inauguration  of  the  great  national  line  of  communication  be- 
tween the  Atlantic  and  the  Mississippi,  and  to  avail  myself  of  the  occasion  to 
visit  that  portion  of  the  country  through  which  it  passes,  under  so  fjivorable 
auspices  as  it  would  afford,  and  of  acquainting  myself  more  fully,  from  per- 
sonal observation,  with  the  character  of  the  great  works  which  have  opened  to 
us  so  direct  and  expeditioiis  a  route  ;  but  I  regret  that  the  pressure  of  my  en- 
gagements here  obliges  me  to  forego  that  pleasure. 

Respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

NATHAN  HALE. 


[Fro7)i  the  Editor  of  the  Neio  York  Courier  and  Enquirer.'] 

New  York,  May  25th,  1857. 
My  Dear  Sir: — I  have  delayed  until  the  last  moment  deciding  whether  it 
would  be  practicable  for  me  to  accept  of  your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at 
the  opening  of  the  most  important  link  in  the  line  of  our  railroad  communica- 
tion to  the  great  A\'est,  but  I  am  exceedingly  anxious  to  be  of  your  part;\%  and, 
God  willing,  I  shall  be  able  to  accomplish  my  wish  to  be  with  you  in  time  to 
join  in  the  festivities  of  the  occasion. 

Yours,  very  truly, 
W.  r.  Smith,  Esq.  J.  WATSON  WEBB. 


\^From  the  Superintendent  of  the  late  Censits.] 

Washington,  D.  C,  May  ISth,  1857. 
My  Dear  Sir: — I  am  honored  with   the  receipt  of  an   invitation,  through 
you,  to  attend  the  celebratiouof  tlie  opening  of  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  and 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroads,  at  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis. 

I  regret  that  it  will  be  out  of  my  power  to  accept  the  invitation  in  conse- 
quence of  a  previous  engagement  to  attend  a  convention,  about  the  same  time, 
of  the  railroads  of  Virginia  to  be  held  at  Bristol,  Tennessee. 

^  Each  link  in  the  chain  of  these  railroad  connections  between  the  Atlantic 
cities  and  tliose  of  the  West,  must  be  regarded  by  the  patriot  with  hope,  as  so 
many  aiiguries  of  a  luture  for  our  countrj-,  of  security,  prosperity,  and  great- 
ness, which  only  t!:e  madness  of  fanaticism  has  ever  been  able  to"  darken. 

In  that  future,  the  part  to  be  performed  by  Baltimore,  St.  Louis,  and  Cin- 
cinnati, must  ever  be  a  high  one. 

Your  obedient  servant, 
W.  r.  Smith,  Esq.  j.  d.  B.  DE  BOW 

Assistant  Mast.  Trans.,  B.  &  0.  R.  R. 


THE 

RAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF  1857. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

THE  EXCURSION  FROM  BALTIMORE. 

The  only  regular  excursion  party  from  an  Eastern  city  to  Cincinnati 
was  arranged  under  the  auspices  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
Company,  leaving  Baltimore  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Monday 
the  1st  of  June,  1857.  A  large  and  jovial  company  fairly  filled  the 
train  of  neat,  comfortahle,  and  commodious  cars  provided  for  the 
occasion.  Upon  the  assistant-master  of  ti'ansportation  especiall}'  de- 
volved the  duty  of  looking  after  the  social  comfort  of  the  guests,  and 
"  Captain  "  George  A.  Rawlings,  "the  model  conductor,"  was  put  in 
charge  of  the  train.  A  magnificent  and  powerful  locomotive,  under 
the  care  of  an  experienced  engineer,  furnished  the  power.  The  depar- 
ture was  from  the  Camden  station,  Avhere  the  Company  have  planned 
and  partly  erected  one  of  the  most  extensive  depots  in  the  United 
States,  which  is  designed  to  be  but  gradually  completed. 

When  all  was  ready,  the  train  moved  out  of  the  station  amid  the 
parting  cheers  of  quite  an  assemblage  of  spectators,  whose  salute  was 
eloquently  answered  by  the  "Independent  Blues"  band  of  Baltimore 
under  Professor  Holland,  which  occui)ied  the  front  car,  having  been 
engaged  by  the  Marietta  Conipany  to  contribute  their  excellent  mnsical 
performances  to  tlie  pleasures  of  the  trip.  The  band  accompanied  us 
all  the  way  to  St.  Louis,  availing  themselves  of  every  suitable  occasion 
to  afford  us  neAv  and  grateful  evidence  of  their  taste  and  skill. 

A  special  time-table  l;ad  been  issued  for  the  trip  by  Dr.  Wood- 
house,  the  Master  of  Transportation,  securing  perfect  safety,  and  enab- 
ling us  to  run  at  a  high  s  eed,  without  fear  of  meeting  sudden  danger. 
To  guard  against  accidents  to  the  motive  power,  extra  locomotives 
were  stationed  at  convenient  and  most  distant  points,  ready  to  snp|ily 


144  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

tlie  place  of  any  which  should  become  disabled.  These  precautions, 
and  a  free  use  of  the  Magnetic  Telegraph  line  belonging  to  the  Railroad 
Company,  and  by  which  the  movements  of  their  trains  are  continually 
regulated,  rendered  accident  or  delay  almost  impossible.  The  follo\s'- 
ing  is  the  time-table  on  which  the  excursion  train  was  run  : 


TIME    TABLE 

FOR  SPECIAL  PASSENGER  TRAIN,  BALTIMORE  AND  OHIO  RAILROAD. 
From  Baltibioee  to  Grafton  Junction,  Monday,  June  \st,  1857. 

(To  be  used  on  that  day  only.) 


STATIONS. 

Miles. 

Time. 

CAMDEN   Station, 
Mt.  Clare  Junction,... 
Washington  June.,... 

EUicott's  Mills, 

Elysville, 

2 

9 

15 

20 

25 

27 

31 

33 

40 

43 

45 

50 

53 

54 

58 

62 

69 

75 

80 

81 

87 

92 

100 

107 

113 

117 

122 

128 

133 

139 

148 

156 

163 

6    00   A.M. 

6  10     " 

6  32     " 

6  52     " 

7  04     " 
7  19     " 
7  25     " 

Woodstock, 

Marriottsville, 

Sykesville,  

Gaither's  Siding, 

Plane  No.  1  W.  S.,... 
Mount  Airy, 

7  40     " 

7  45     " 

8  05     "■] 
8  15     " 
8  22     " 
8  37     " 
8  43     » 
8  46     " 

8  56     " 

9  10     " 
9  27     " 
9  45     " 

T 
P 

-T 

Pass  Tonnage  West — Tonnage 

taking  siding. 
Meet  Express  East. 

Plane  No  4  E.  H.,  ... 
Monrovia,    , 

Ijamsville,   

Hartman's,  

Meet  Tonnage  East. 

Monocacy,   

Buckevstown  

Point  of  Rocks,    

Berlin, 

Sandy  Hook,  

10  00     " 
10  05     " 
10  25     " 

10  38     " 

11  10     " 

11  35     "     P 

11  57     » 

12  07  p.  M. 
12  21     " 
12  40     " 
12  50     " 

1  05     «  TC 
1  28     " 

1  45     " 

2  02     " 

Harpers  Ferry,    .... 
Duffields, 

Kearneysville, 

MARTINSBURG,  ... 

North  Jlountain, 

Cherry  Run, 

Sleepy  Creek, 

[f:peed. 

Approaching  at  greatly  reduced 

Meet   Accoaimodation    East — 

Excursion  Train  taking  sid- 

Hancock,  

Sir  Johiis  Run,  

Willett'sRun, 

ing. 

RocktceWs  Run, 

No.  12  W.Sta., 

L.  Cacapon  Sid., 

Cr7'f€n  iSprinxi  Run,  ... 

Meet  Coal  and  Tonnage  Trains 
East — Coal     and     Tonnage 
taking  siding. 

TJIE    DEPARTURE    FROM    BALTIMORE. 


145 


Stations. 

Milea. 

Time. 

Patterson's  Creek, 

170 

2  20 

P.M. 

Cumberland,  arrive... 

178 

2  38 

(( 

"             leave  ... 

3  08 

(( 

Brady's  :\  mi,    

185 

3  28 

a      ip 

Pass  Tonnage  West — Tonnage 

Rawlins'  W.  S 

191 

3  43 

(( 

taking  siding. 

B.  Oak  Bottom  S.  ... 

194 

3  55 

(t 

New  Creek, 

201 
206 

4  10 
4  30 

"    s 

u      p 

Meet  Stock  East. 

PIED]MOXT,  arrive. 

Meet  Mail  Train  East. 

"               leave.. 

4  45 

i( 

Approaching  at  greatly  reduced 

Frankville,  

214 

5  00 

(( 

speed. 

S  wanton, 

220 
223 
232 

5  20 
5  32 
5  55 

(( 

(( 

Altamont,  

Oakland,  arrive  .... 

"         leave 

6  00 

li 

Cranberry  Summit,... 

242 

6  28 

(1 

Rodemer's  Tunnel,... 

246 

6  40 

'< 

Rowlesburg,  arrive... 

253 

6  55 

CI 

"            leave  ... 

7  00 

<( 

Tunnelton,    arrive  ... 

260 

7  55 

11     IJ 

Meet  Tonnage  East — Tonnage 

"            leave  ... 

8  00 

<I 

taking  siding. 

Newburg,  arrive 

266 

8  20 

(( 

"        leave  

8  20 

(( 

Thornton,  

273 

279 

8  40 

9  00 

(( 

Grafton,  

Lie  over  the  night. 

All  passenger  trains  eastward-bound  wUl  wait  thirty  minutes  for  the  special 
train  it'necessary. 

All  the  tonnage,  coal,  and  stock  trains  will  wait  at  the  meeting  places  un- 
til the  special  train  has  passed  them,  unless  clearly  ordered  otherwise  by  the 
Supervisor  of  trains  or  his  assistant. 

The  accommodation  train  and  mail  train,  both  East  and  West,  will  be  run 
as  usual  upon  this  day. 

Wm.  S.  Woodside, 

Mauler  of  Transportation. 

A  few  minutes  brought  us  to  the  "Relay  House,"'  or  Washington 
Junction,  where  <a  conj^iderable  addition  from  Washington,  Annap- 
olis, etc.,  to  our  party  was  made.  The  new  comers  on  board,  and  our 
train  fairly  off' again,  Ave  had  opportunity  to  look  about  and  see  who 
were  our  conqxionom  de  voyage.  Among  the  number  we  recognized, 
as  well  as  we  can  remember,  tlie  following: — 

Hon.  Lewis  Cass,  L^.  S.  Secretary  of  State. 

M.  de  Sartiges,  French  Minister  Plenipotentiary  at  Washington  and  suite. 
Hon.  Thomas  Swann,  Mayor  of  Baltimore. 
Hon.  J.Morrison  Harris,  M.  C,  of  IMaryland. 

Chauncy  Brooks,  President,  and  19  Directors  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  Co. 

Hon.  George  Wells,  President  of  Maryland  Senate. 
7 


146  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

Hon.  \Vm.  H.  Travers,  Speaker  of  ]\Iaryland  House  of  Delegates. 

Hou.  Nathaniel  Cox,  Secretary  of  State  of  Mai-yland. 

Hon.  J.  T.  Mason,  Collector  of  the  Port  of  Baltimore. 

Dr.  Dennis  Claude,  Treasurer  of  Maryland. 

Dr.  J.  Higgins,  State  Geologist  of  Maryland. 

P.  G.  Van  Winkle,  President,  and  the  Directors  of  the  Northwestern  Vir- 
ginia Railroad. 

Wm.   Parker,  of  Boston,   formerly  Superintendent  of  the   Baltimore    and 
Ohio  Railroad. 

Hon.  Charles  A.  Phelps,  President  of  Massachusetts  Senate. 

Hon.   Fayette  McMulleu,   of  Virginia,   the  newly  appointed  Governor   of 
Washington  Territory. 

The  Commissioners  of  Public  Works  of  Maryland  and  Virginia. 

William  Thomson,  Secretary  to  the  Mayor  of  Baltimore. 

Hon.  Joshua  Vansant. 

Major-General  George  H.  Stuart. 

Charles  A.  Dana,  Associate  Editor  of  the  New  York  Tribiine. 

James  W.  Simonton,  Washington  Editor  of  the  New  York  Daily  Times. 

James  B.  Swain,  of  the  New  York  Daily  Times. 

Charles  Hale,  Junior  Editor  of  Boston  Daily  Advertiser. 

W.  B   Shaw,  V.'ashington  Correspondent  of  the  New  York  Herald. 

Samuel  Hueston,  of  Knickerbocker  Magazine. 

E.  G.  Dill,  of  Washington  Union. 

John  T.  Crow,  of  Baltimore  Sun. 

E.  Fulton,  of  Baltimore  American. 

Thomas  D.  Sultzer,  of  Baltimore  Patriot. 

H.  H.  Young,  of  Baltimore  Republican. 

H.  N.  Gallagher,  Charlestown,  Va.,  Free  Press. 

A.  Payne,  of  Railroad  Advocate. 

C.  W.  Tayleure  and  W.  N.  Tuttle,  of  Baltimore  Clipper. 

Samuel  Sands,  Editor  of  the  American  Farmer. 

John  A.  Haven,  Editor  of  the  American  Railway  Times, 

J.  R.  Thompson,  Editor  of  Southern  Literary  Messengei, 

M.  Paul,  Consul  of  France,  at  Richmond,  Virginia. 

W.  H.  Baldwin,  locomotive  manufacturer,  Philadelphia. 

Hon.  Z.  Collins  Lee,  of  Baltimore. 

W.  H.  Appleton,  of  the  well-known  publishing  house. 

Prof.  Baxley,  of  Baltimore. 
Rev.  Dr.  G.  \V.  Burnap. 

"We  should  not  omit  to  mention  tliat  there  were  also  quite  a  num- 
ber of  ladies  in  the  party,  wliose  refining  influence  added  not  a  little 
to  the  pleasure  of  the  occasion.  By  tlie  aid  of  tlie  officers  of  tlie  Eail- 
road  Company,  the  excursionists  soon  became  acquainted  witli  each 
otlier,  and  the  usual  annoyances  of  travel  were  speedily  forgotten  in 
busy  scenes  of  social  and  friendly  intercourse  among  those  avIio,  but 
now,  were  strangers  to  each  other.  Never  did  time  pass  more  rapidly 
on  a  railroad  trip.  Eacli  member  of  the  party  seemed  brimful  of  liap- 
piness,  and  precisely  in  condition  to  enjoy  every  thing  fnjoyable,  and 


THE    EXCURSIONISTS    BV    THE    SPECIAL    TRAIX.  14Y 

turn  minor  drawbacks  even  into  elements  of  hilarity.  When  -we  left 
the  Camden  Station  the  rain  was  falling  quite  hriskly,  and  the  weather 
continued  sliowery  all  daj- — sufficiently,  at  least,  to  "lay  the  dust," 
although  the  clouds  at  no  time  were  heavy,  or  low  enough  to  prevent 
clear  views  of  the  ever  varying  scenery  on  the  line  of  the  road. 


THE 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS    OF    1857. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

TRIP  FROM    BALTIMORE  TO  GRAFTON  JUNCTION— DESCRIPTION  OF 
THE  LINE. 

The  country  through  whicli  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Raih-oad  winds 
its  path  has  a  world-wide  fame  for  grand  andheautiful  scenerj'.  Some 
brief  notice  of  the  chief  points  of  interest  will  not  he  deemed  out  of 
place  as  we  hurry  along  in  our  description  of  the  work  itself,  and  the 
events  of  the  excursion  trip. 

The  road  from  the  Camden  Station  to  the  Washington  Junction 
was  already  familiar  to  nearly  or  quite  all  the  party  :  but  when  our 
locomotive  dodged  the  massive  and  beautiful  granite  viaduct  crossing 
the  Patapsco  at  this  point,  and  the  train  began  to  wind  along  the  tor- 
tuous bank  of  that  serpentine  stream,  many  of  the  strangers  found 
themselves  on  novel  ground.  It  is  at  this  point  that  the  Patapsco 
breaks  through  its  rocky  gorge  to  find  its  way  to  the  Cliesapeake. 
The  river  is  rapid  and  shallow  as  we  proceed,  affording  an  abundance 
of  water-power,  freely  availed  of  for  manufacturing  purposes.  Tlie 
Avalon  iron-works,  situated  on  a  flat  rising  apparently  from  the  bed 
of  tlie  river,  afford  a  pleasing  feature  in  this  picture  of  American  in- 
dustry, seated  in  tlic  lap  of  a  cliarming  and  prosperous  valley.  The 
rocky  hill  sides  hounding  the  valley  near  the  Washington  Junction 
bear  up  many  a  well-improved  site  for  country  villas,  occupied  chiefly 
by  gentlemen  whose  daily  minglings  in  the  toil  and  strife  of  the  neigh- 
boring city  only  render  their  rural  retreats  the  more  grateful  and  in- 
viting. A  few  miles  beyond,  the  road  crosses  the  river  at  the  Ilches- 
ter  mill— in  a  very  rugged  part  of  the  valley— by  the  Patterson  via- 
duct, a  fine  granite  l)ridge  of  two  arches  of  fifty-five  and  two  of  twenty 
feet  span.  The  Thistle  and  Gray  Cotton  Factories  were  soon  passed, 
and  then  we  approached  the  well-known  town  of  Ellicott's  Mills,  dis- 


VIEW  OF  KLLICOTTS  MILLS  STATION, 

Fifteen  Miles  from  Baltimore. 

Tlie  large  l.uiUlings  on  the  hill  in  background  represent  the  '^Patapsco  Institute,'' 
a  celebrated  Academy  for  Ladies. 


VIEW  OF  ONE  OF  THE  NEW  IRON  BRIDGES, 

Near  I^i.ysville  Station,  on  the  Balt.  &  Ohio  R.  R.,  21  Miles  from  Baltimore. 


FROM    BALTIMORE    TO    THE    MONOCACY    RIVER.  149 

tant  fifteen  miles  from  Baltimore,  covering  the  face  of  tlie  valley  and 
tlie  slopes  of  the  steep  liills  enclosing  it,  the  tops  of  these  hills  being 
crowned  most  picturesquely  with  several  cliurehes  and  other  public 
edifices.  The  old  "  National "  turnpike  is  crossed  liere  by  the  railroad 
upon  the  "Oliver  Viaduct,"  a  stone  bridge  of  three  arches  of  twenty 
feet  span.  The  Patapsco  narrows  considerably  as  we  approach  the 
mills,  rolling  and  tumbling  along  over  its  rocky  bed,  and  presenting 
some  very  jiretty  specimens  of  miniature  cascades  at  points  where  the 
descent  is  most  rapid. 

Five  miles  further  and  we  were  at  Elysville,  where  tlie  party 
alighted  to  examine  the  peculiarities  of  an  iron  bridge  invented  by 
Mr.  Wendel  BoUman  (the  head  of  the  "Road  Department"  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  service),  spanning  the  river  here  with  a  double  track 
three  hundred  and  forty  feet  in  length.  The  river  is  again  crossed  a 
half  mile  further  on  by  another  of  those  enduring  structures  which 
are  entirely  different  in  their  principle  of  construction  from  any  other, — 
and  their  various  parts  are  peculiarly  adjusted  with  a  view  to  obviating 
the  ditficnity  experienced  in  all  other  iron  bridges  from  the  expansion 
and  contraction  of  their  material,  under  the  influence  of  changes  of 
temperature.  Experience  has  demonstrated  the  entire  success  of  this 
invention,  which  is  working  its  way  into  public  favor. 

Five  miles  west  of  Elysville  we  struck  the  "  fork  "  of  the  Patapsco, 
where  the  road  turns  its  Avestern  branch  by  a  deep  cut  through  a  nar- 
row neck.  A  few  miles  further,  near  Mariottsville,  we  crossed  the 
Patapsco  by  an  iron  bridge,  of  fifty  feet  span,  and  then  daslied  through 
our  first  tunnel,  penetrating  a  sharp  spur  of  the  hill,  a  length  of  four 
hundred  feet  through  mica  slate  rock.  Crossing  meadow  lands,  and 
following  a  crooked  gorge  to  the  pretty  village  of  Sykesville,  thirty- 
one  miles  from  Baltimore,  we  found  ourselves  in  the  heart  of  a  region 
abounding  in  minerals.  For  a  considerable  distance  beyond,  our 
course  lay  through  a  rather  uneven  country,  the  roadway  for  much  of 
the  distance  cut  from  the  solid  rock,  until,  leaving  the  granite  region, 
extending  thus  far  from  near  "Washington  Junction,  we  struck  Parr's 
Ridge,  (42  miles  from  Baltimore,)  dividing  tiie  valley  of  the  Patapsco 
from  that  of  the  Monocacy  and  Potomac.  From  the  summit  of  this 
ridge,  at  Mount  Airy  Station,  we  obtained  charming  views  of  the 
Plains  of  Frederick,  backed  by  the  nearer  spurs  of  the  Blue  Ridge, 
and  extending  a  distance  of  full  fifteen  miles  to  the  Catoctin  ^lountain. 
On  the  western  side  the  quiet  Monocacy  flows  placidly  through  the 
fields  and  meadows  of  a  fine  agricultural  district,  till  it  issues,  by  a 
gorge,  on  the  eastern  side,  and  thence  courses  along  to  the  termination 


150  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILKOAD    OPENING. 

of  the  iiiountaiii?,  to  empty  into  the  Potomac.  Near  the  mouth  of  tliis 
pretty  little  stream  the  insiilatetl  spurs  of  Sugar-Loaf  Mountain  shoot 
up  ahruptly  ;  while,  on  the  other  side,  magnificent  groves  of  choice 
timber  cover  the  slopes  and  transverse  valleys.  The  railroad  crosses 
the  Monocacy  river  by  a  new  iron  bridge  of  three  spans,  each  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  feet,  elevated  about  forty  feet  above  the  bed  of  the 
stream.  Here,  fifty-eight  miles  from  Baltimore,  the  Frederick  branch 
railroad,  three  miles  in  length,  diverges  from  the  main  track,  and  ter- 
minates at  the  city  of  Frederick,  the  centre  of  one  of  the  most  fertile, 
"wealthy  and  populous  sections  of  Maryland. 

Quitting  tlie  Mouocacy  Yalley,  we  crossed  southwestvvardly  over 
rich  limestone  levels,  embracing  the  famous '' Carroll  Manor"  land, 
between  the  Catoctin  and  Sugar-Loaf,  by  long  straight  stretches  and 
sweeping  curves  towards  the  "Point  of  Rocks."  Approaching  this 
place,  we  passed,  by  a  cut  of  some  extent,  through  the  ridge  of  breccia 
marble,  from  whicli  the  beautifully  variegated  columns  of  the  old 
National  Legislative  Halls  at  "Wasliington  were  obtained.  It  certainly 
seemed  almost  sacrilege  to  use  this  beautiful  material  for  ballasting 
the  road  bed — a  purpose  to  which  not  a  little  of  it  seems  to  have  been 
appropriated.  Near  this  point  we  struck  the  Potomac  where  the  rail- 
way runs  on  a  broad  and  rocky  ledge  cut  from  the  precipice  of  the 
Catoctin  Mountain,  towering  up  on  the  right,  and  is  supported  on  the 
left  by  broad  embanking  walls,  separating  it  from  the  Chesapeake  and 
Ohio  canal,  wliich  divides  with  the  road  tlie  pass  by  which  the  river 
escapes  from  the  rugged  hills.  The  Potomac,  at  this  point,  is  more 
than  a  thousand  feet  wide,  and  foams  over  a  succession  of  rocky  ledges 
extending  across  its  bed  at  right  angles.  Speeding  along  the  base  of 
gently  sloping  hills,  passing  the  villages  of  Berlin  and  Ivnoxville,  and 
the  "Weverton  factories"  in  the  pass  of  South  Mountain,  we  soon 
struck  the  foot  of  another  precipice,  along  which  our  course  lay  for 
some  three  miles,  the  last  of  which  was  immediately  under  the  lofty 
clitfs  of  Elk  Mountain,  forming  the  nortiiern  side  of  this  noted  pass. 

The  announcement  of  our  approach  to  Harper's  Ferry  attracted 
very  general  attention,  and  all  eyes  were  soon  engaged  in  earnest  in- 
spection of  its  famous  scenery,  referring  to  which  Thomas  Jefferson 
said  that  the  passage  of  the  Potomac  through  tlie  Blue  Ridge,  at  this 
point,  was  "one  of  the  most  stupendous  scenes  in  nature,  and  Avell 
worth  a  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  to  witness."  The  beautiful  and 
romantic  Shenandoah  enters  the  Potomac  immediately  below  the 
bridge  by  which  Ave  crossed  the  latter,  and  their  united  currents  rush 
swiftly  over  the  broad  ledges  of  rock  stretching  across  the  river  bed. 


POINT   OF  EOCKS, 

"Baltimoke  &  Ohio  Raii.koad,  Seventy  Miles  from  Baltimore. 

CHESAPEAKE  ^-  OHWCAl^AL  and  POTOMAC  RIVER 

Akk  Seen  in  View. 


FROM    MONOCACV    TO    IIAKPER  S    FERRV.  151 

The  bridge  referred  to  is  constructed  somewliat  in  the  shape  of  the 
letter  Y,  dividing  as  we  approach  its  western  end,  tlie  left-hand  branch 
connecting  with  the  Wincliester  and  Potomac  Eaih-oad  passing  up  the 
Shenandoah,  and  tlie  right  hand  carrying  the  main  road,  by  a  bold 
curve,  up  the  Potomac.  The  bridge,  is  about  nine  hundred  feet  in 
length,  and  consists  of  six  arches  of  one  liundred  and  thirty,  and  one 
arch  of  seventy-five  feet  span  over  the  river,  and  an  arch  of  one  hun- 
dred feet  span  over  the  canal.  These  arches  are  all  of  timber  and  iron, 
and  covered  in,  except  the  Avestern  arch  connecting  with  the  AVia- 
chester  Road,  Avhich  is  constructed  entirely  of  iron,  on  Rollman's  plan. 
This  work  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention  among  northern  railroad 
men  during  the  few  minutes  allotted  for  our  stay  at  Harper's  Ferry. 
It  is  remarkable  not  so  much  for  its  length  as  for  its  peculiar  form,  the 
ends  being  curved  in  opposite  directions,  and  the  structure  bifurcated 
towards  the  western  extremity. 

The  town  of  "Harper''s  Ferry,"  (which  obtained  its  name  in  the 
ancient  days  when  a  ferry  here  aiforded  the  only  means  of  crossing  the 
streams,)  is  built  upon  the  narrow  declivitous  tongue  of  land  lying 
directly  in  the  confluence  of  two  rivers.  As  the  mountain  steeps  con- 
verge precii)itously  at  all  points  about  the  gap,  but  small  space  is  left 
for  building  with  accessible  convenience.  The  National  Armories 
located  here,  and  taking  their  manufacturing  "power"  from  the  tor- 
rents of  the  Potomac,  quite  exhaust  the  level  land  on  the  Potomac 
river  margin,  so  that  the  town  is  compelled  to  go  clambering  pic- 
turesquely up  the  hills  and  bluffs,  whose  summits  are  crowned  with 
church  spires  and  sepulchral  monuments  and  groves. 

Jefferson's  Rock,  a  great-overhanging  cliff,  is  in  sight,  balancing 
upon  its  base,  and  even  threatening  to  come  down  upoii  tlie  gorges 
below  in  a  destructive  avalanche.  It  was  from  this  elevated  stand- 
point that  Jefferson  pencilled  his  graphic  description  of  the  scene 
which  there  bursts  upon  the  view.  He  said:  "You  stand  on  a  very 
high  point  of  land;  on  your  right  comes  up  the  Shenandoah,  having 
ranged  the  foot  of  the  mountain  a  hundred  miles  to  seek  a  vent ;  on 
your  left  approaches  the  Potomac  in  quest  of  a  passage  also.  In  the 
moment  of  their  junction  they  rush  together  against  the  mountain, 
I'cnd  it  asunder  and  pass  off  to  the  sea." 

At  llari)er's  Ferry,  an  addition  of  fifty  or  sixty  persons  was  made 
tt)  our  i>arty,  consisting  of  a  detacliment  of  New  York  guests,  invited 
by  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  and  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Com- 
panies, who  had  preceded  the  excursion-train  thus  far  in  order  that 
they  might  have  more  time  to  ramble  over  the  picturesque  region  in 


152  GREAT    OHIO     AND    MISSISSIIM'I     HAILKOAD    OPENING. 

■which  we  overtook  tliein.  Among  tlie  niinibei-  Avere:  Hon.  James 
Brooks,  (Ed.  N.  Y.  Exjivess,)  Messrs.  J.  S.  Atwood,  Henry  C.  Boweii, 
Ed.  0.  Bowen,  Wm.  Tracy,  J.  N.  Tappan,  all  of  New  York,  and  many 
others  whose  names  are  not  now  familiar  to  us.  Quite  a  number  of 
ladies  also  accompanied  the  new  delegation. 

A  short  distance  west  of  Harper's  Ferry  the  road  leaves  tiie  Poto- 
mac, and  passes  up  the  ravine  of  Elk  Branch,  which  presents  itself  at 
this  point  in  a  favorable  direction.  This  ravine,  at  first  narrow  and 
serpentine,  becomes  wider  and  more  direct  until  it  ahnost  loses  itself 
in  the  rolling  table-land  which  characterizes  the  "Valley  of  Vir- 
ginia." Tiie  head  of  Elk  Branch  is  reached  in  about  nine  miles,  and 
thence  the  line  descends  gradually  over  an  undulating  champaign 
country  to  the  crossing  of  the  "Opequau"  creak,  which  it  passes  by  a 
stone  and  timber  viaduct  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  sj)an  ar.d  forty 
feet  above  the  water  surface.  Beyond  this  viaduct  the  road  enters  tlie 
open  valley  of  Tuscarora  creek,  which  it  crosses  twice  and  pursues  to 
the  town  of  Martinsburg, 'nineteen  miles  from  Harper's  Ferry.  At 
Martinsburg  the  Tuscarora  is  again  bridged  twice,  the  crossing  east  of 
the  town  being  made  upon  a  viaduct  often  spans  of  fort3--four  feet  each, 
of  timber  and  iron,  supported  by  two  abutments  and  eighteen  stone 
columns  in  the  Doric  style,  and  which  have  a  very  agreeable  architec- 
tural effect. 

The  railroad  company  have  erected  here  large  engine-liouses  and 
workshops,  and  have  made  it  one  of  their  principal  stations  for  the 
shelter  and  repair  of  their  machinery,  a  measure  greatly  promoting  the 
prosperity  of  the  town,  which,  like  many  of  the  old  Virginia  villages, 
had  previously  been  in  a  finished  state  for  a  long  period.  Martinsburg 
is  also  the  dividing  station  between  the  first  and  second  working  divi- 
sions of  the  road,  one  hundred  miles  from  Baltimore. 

At  Martinsburg,  where  we  arrived  at  eleven  o'clock,  we  stopped  to 
lunch.  Here,  too,  we  were  joined  by  Hon.  J.  Dixon  Roman,  of  Mary- 
land, and  Hon.  Charles  J.  Faulkner,  the  present  distinguished  repre- 
sentative in  Congress  of  the  Harper's  Ferry  and  Martinsburg  district, 
whose  handsome  and  hospitable  residence  and  grounds  are  beautifully 
located  at  the  south  end  of  the  town. 

There  was  nothing  striking  in  the  scenery  after  leaving  Martins- 
burg until  we  crossed  Back  Creek,  eight  miles  distant,  on  a  stone  via- 
duct with  a  single  eighty  feet  arch,  elevated  fifty-four  feet  above  the 
stream.  Here  we  again  opened  the  valley  of  the  Potomac,  with 
magnificent  views  of  the  North  Mountain  and  Sideling  Hill  in  the  dis- 
tance.   Not  far  beyond,  we  reached  the  margin  of  the  river  at  a  point 


a  Pi 


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fa 

MARTIXSBLRG,    AND    THE    UPPER    POTOMAC.  153 

opposite  the  remains  of  Fort  Frederick,  erected  by  the  colonial  gov- 
ernment of  Maryland  in  1755,  for  "frontier"  defence.  How  sugges- 
tive of  our  country's  gigantic  strides  is  the  fact  that  this  frontier  out- 
post of  only  one  hundred  years  ago,  is  passed  hy  as  now  almost  at  the 
beginning  of  a  continuous  railroad  stretching  a  thousand  miles  west  of 
these  ruin  relics  of  our  fathers!  Beyond  Fort  Fredeiick  we  began  to 
tmich  historic  ground,  associated  with  the  names  of  St.  Clair,  Brad- 
dock,  and  Washington.  Hancock,  one  hundred  and  twenty-two 
miles  from  Baltimore,  is  the  station  for  Berkely  Springs,  two  miles 
from  the  railroad,  whose  virtues  were  early  recognized  by  Washington 
and  the  Fairfaxes ;  and  have  made  Berkely  at  the  present  time  a  favor- 
ite wateiing-i)lace  to  large  numbers  of  fashionable  pleasure-seekers 
Avho  throng  it  every  summer.  "Westwardly,  the  route  to  Cumber- 
land pursues  the  margin  of  the  Potomac  River,  with  four  exceptions. 
The  first  occurs  at  Doe  Gnlly,  eighteen  miles  above  Hancock,  where, 
by  a  tunnel  of  1,200  feet  in  length,  a  bend  of  the  river  is  cut  off  and  a 
distance  of  nearly  four  miles  saved.  The  second  is  at  the  Paw  Paw 
Ridge,  where  a  distance  of  nearlj'  two  miles  is  saved  by  a  tnnnel  of 
250  feet  in  lengtli.  Tlie  third  and  fourth  areAvithin  six  miles  of  Cum- 
berland, wliere  two  bends  are  cut  across  by  the  route  with  a  consider- 
able lessening  of  distance.  In  advancing  westward  from  Hancock,  the 
line  passes  along  the  western  base  of  Warm  Spring  Ridge.  It  then 
sweeps  around  the  termination  of  the  Cacapon  Mountain,  opposite  the 
remarkable  and  insulated  eminence  called  the  "  Round  Top."  Thence 
the  road  proceeds  to  the  crossing  of  the  Great  Cacapon  River,  nine  and 
a  half  miles  above  Hancock,  wliich  is  done  by  a  bridge  about  300 
feet  in  length.  Witliin  the  next  mile  it  passes  dam  I^o.  6  of  the  Ches- 
apeake and  Ohio  Canal,  and  soon  after  enters  the  gap  of  Sideling  Hill, 
that  famous  bugbear  of  the  traveller,  which  on  the  National  Turnpike 
opposes  such  a  formidable  barrier  to  hisjourni-y,  but  which  here  is  rn- 
noticed,  except  in  the  fine  profile  which  it  exhibits  on  each  side  of  the 
river,  as  it  declines  rapidly  to  the  water  level. 

The  next  point  of  interest  reached  is  the  tunnel  at  Doe  Gully. 
The  approaches  to  this  formidable  work  are  very  imposing,  as  for  sev- 
eral miles  above  and  below  they  cause  the  road  to  occupy  a  high  level 
on  the  slopes  of  the  river  hills,  and  thus  aftbrd  an  extensive  view  of 
the  grand  mountain  river  and  scenery.  Tlie  tunnel  is  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  in  length,  through  a  compact  slate  rock,  which  is  arclied  with 
brick  to  preserve  it  from  future  disintegration  by  atmospheric  aclion. 
The  width  of  the  o[)ening  within  the  brickwork  of  the  arch  is  21  feet, 
and  the  height  20^,  aflording  room  for  two  tracks.  Tlie  heiuht  of  the 
7* 


154  OKKAT    OHIO     AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

hill  aLovo  the  roof  of  the  tniinel  is  116  feet.  The  tunnel  at  Paw  Paw 
Eidge  is  of  similar  dimensions,  eomi»letely  arched  with  brick  and 
foced  with  white  sandstone.  Tlience  the  route  reaches  Little  Cacapou 
Creek,  2H  miles  east  of  Cumberland.  At  the  mouth  of  this  stream 
there  are  fine  flats,  and  a  beautiful  view  of  tiie  mountains  to  the  east- 
ward is  obtained.     The  viaduct  over  the  creek  is  143  feet  long. 

About  live  and  a  half  miles  further  on,  sixteen  miles  east  of  Cum- 
berland, the  soutli  branch  of  the  Potomac  is  crossed  on  a  bridge  400 
feet  long.  This  is,  in  fact,  the  main  Potomac,  and  would  have  been 
so  treated,  it  is  said,  by  the  conmiissioners  Avho  determined  the  ^boun- 
dary  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  but  tliat  the  north  branch  lias  the 
a])pearance,  at  the  confluence,  of  being  the  larger  stream.  The  river 
bottoms  are  here  wide  and  exceedingly  fertile,  and  the  scenery  very 
beautiful.  The  arching  of  the  strata  in  the  section  of  the  South  Branch 
Mountain,  jnst  above  the  junction,  is  most  remarkable  and  grand. 

Some  two  miles  above  is  a  fine  straight  line,  over  the  widely  ex- 
panded flats  opposite  the  ancient  village  of  Old  Town,  in  Maryland. 
These  are  the  finest  bottom  lands  on  the  river,  and  from  the  upper 
end  of  them  is  obtained  tlie  first  view  of  the  Knobh'  Mountain,  a  re- 
markable elevation,  which  lies  in  a  line  with  the  town  of  Cumberland, 
and  is  singularly  diversified  by  a  profile  Avhich  appears  like  a  succes- 
sion of  huge  artificial  mounds.  Dan's  Mountain  towers  over  it,  form- 
ing a  fine  background  to  the  view.  Patterson's  Creek,  eight  miles 
from  Cumberland,  is  next  reached.  Immediately  below  this  stream  is 
a  lofty  mural  precipice  of  limestone  and  sandstone  rock,  singularly 
perforated  in  soine  of  the  ledges  by  openings  Avhich  look  like  Gothic 
loopholes.  The  valley  of  this  creek  is  very  straight  and  bordered  by 
beautiful  flats.  The  viaduct  over  the  stream  is  150  feet  long.  Less 
than  two  miles  above,  and  six  miles  from  Cumberland,  the  north 
branch  of  the  Potomac  is  crossed  by  an  iron  viaduct  700  feet  long,  rising 
in  a  succession  of  steps — embracing  also  a  crossing  of  the  Chesapeake 
and  Ohio  Canal.  This  extensive  bridge  carries  us  out  of  Virginia  and 
lands  us  once  more  in  old  Maryland,  which  Ave  left  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
and  kept  out  of  for  a  distance  of  91  miles.  The  route  thence  to  Cum- 
berland is  across  two  bends  of  the  river,  between  Avhich  the  stream  of 
Evert's  Creek  is  crossed  by  a  viaduct  of  100  feet  span. 

The  "  Mountain  City"  of  Cumberland,  of  which  we  had  a  fine 
view  as  our  train  approached,  is  situated  in  a  grand  amphitheatre 
formed  by  the  surrounding  mountains,  that  seem  to  have  expanded 
themselves  here  in  extended  curves  with  a  view  to  giving  room  in 
their  lap  for  the  city,  required  by  the  great  coal  trade,  naturally  cen- 


GRAND  POTOMAC  VALLEY  VIEW, 

From  the  Celebrated  "Jefferson's  Rock,"  Harper's  Ferry,  on  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  Railroad,  81  Miles  from  Baltimore. 


THROUGH    CUMBERLAXD    TO    PIEDMONT    STATION.  165 

tring  at  tliis  point.  The  occasion  of  our  visit  "was  a  gala  day  in 
town,  and  an  immense  crowd  greeted  us  as  we  entered  the  depot  of 
the  company  at  the  intersection  of  the  railroad  with  the  celebrated 
national  turnpike. 

At  Cumberland  the  guests  were  furnished  witli  meal-tickets  by  the 
Railroad  Co.,  and  parcelled  out  to  the  diiferent  hotels  for  dinner,  to 
the  discussion  of  which  half  an  hour  was  appropriated.  Mr.  Jo.seph 
H.  Tucker,  late  Mayor  of  the  city,  had  made  liberal  preparations  for 
the  entertainment  of  a  number  of  the  guests  at  his  residence,  where 
the  Hon.  Secretary  of  State,  General  Cass;  Hon.  Thomas  Swanu, 
Mayor  of  Baltimore;  Count  Sartiges ;  Chauncy  Brooks,  Esq.,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company;  Hon.  Joshua 
Vansant,  Hon.  J.  Morrison  Harris,  Colonel  Spencer,  of  Aimapolis,  and 
others,  liad  tlie  pleasure  of  meeting  several  prominent  citizens  of  Cum- 
berland, and  partaking  with  them  of  the  ex-Mayor's  hospitality. 

Bidding  our  new  friends  at  Cumberland  fai'ewell,  we  left  the  city 
soon  after  3  o'clock,  P.  M.,  by  a  remarkably  solid  stone  viaduct  of 
fourteen  arches,  fifty  feet  span  each,  designed  and  constructed  by  Mr. 
Benjamin  H.  Latrobe,  crossing  AVills'  Creek  at  an  elevation  of  tliirty- 
tive  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  stream.  From  Cumberland  to  Pied- 
mont, twenty-eight  miles,  the  scenery  is  remarkably  (picturesque,  and 
elicited  many  enthusiastic  expressions  of  wonder  and  delight,  as  we 
skimmed  over  the  gradually  ascending  level  along  the  North  Branch 
of  the  Potomac,  between  the  western  slope  of  Ivnobly  and  the  eastern 
feet  of  Dan's  and  Wills'  Mountains.  One  of  the  finest  of  the  many 
views  is  had  near  the  crossing  of  the  Potomac,  twenty-one  miles  from 
Cumberland,  where  the  railroad,  after  passing  through  a  long  and 
deep  excavation,  spans  the  river  by  a  bridge  of  iron  and  timber,  on 
stone  abutments  and  a  pier.  Tiie  view  from  this  point  up  and  down 
the  river  is  well  wortii  attention.  For  the  last  six  miles  before  we 
reached  Piedmont,  the  river  coursed  its  way  by  a  deep  chasm,  cut  by 
its  own  torrent,  through  the  mountain  base.  After  crossing  the  bridge, 
the  road  wound,  by  easy  curves,  through  romantic  scenery,  passing 
Queen's  Cliff,  Thunder  Hill,  and  Dan's  Mountain,  until  we  reached  the 
"  foot  of  the  mountain  "  at  Piedmont.  This  remote  town  lies  upon  a 
flat  of  limited  extent  on  the  Virginia  side,  opposite  the  ancient  Mary- 
land village  of  AVestern  Port,  at  the  mouth  of  George's  Creek.  It  is  a 
thriving  and  prosperous  town  already,  although  created  simply  by  the 
necessities  of  the  Railroad  Co.,  who  found  an  engine-station  hero  de- 
sirable. It  contains  extensive  engine-houses,  designed  by  Mr.  Latrobe 
and  formed  in  tlic  shape  of  marquees,  each  one  being  arranged  to  hold 


156  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSII'PI    RAILUOAD    OPENING. 

sixteen  locomotives.  Here,  too,  are  located  very  extensive  shops  lor 
the  repair  of  engines,  cottages  for  workmen,  etc.  Piedmont  is  the  di- 
viding station  between  the  second  and  third  working  divisions  of  the 
road,  being  208  miles  from  Baltimore  and  108  from  Martinsburg. 

At  this  station  our  train  was  divided,  and  placed  under  convoy  of 
two  powerful  engines,  in  order  that  we  might  the  more  readily  over- 
come the  unusually  steep  grades  by  which  we  were  to  climb  to  the 
mountain's  summit.  The  necessity  for  this  precaution  is  apparent, 
■when  we  state  that  in  eleven  of  the  seventeen  miles  from  Piedmont 
westward,  the  grade  ascends  116  feet  to  the  mile.  After  the  trains 
were  divided,  quite  a  number  of  gentlemen,  including  M.  Sartiges,  the 
French  minister,  and  several  members  of  the  press,  mounted  the  loco- 
motives for  an  outside  ride  to  Altamont,  the  better  to  view  the  grand 
and  rugged  scenery  upon  Avhich  we  were  entering.  One  who  has 
never  ridden  the  iron  horse  can  scarcely  conceive  the  sensations  pro- 
duced thereby,  nor  can  they  well  be  described.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
it  fills  the  most  philosophic  with  enthusiasm  and  a  sensation  of  buoy- 
ancy, as  though  he  were  possessed  of  wings,  which  tempt  him  to  soar 
away  in  a  contest  of  speed  witli  tiie  locomotive  itself,  confident  tiie 
■while  of  achieving  an  easy  victory.  Many  were  the  expressions  of  won- 
der and  surprise  as  our  train  wound  its  way  aupon  a  broad  shelf  cut  in 
the  mountain  side,  gradually  crawling  upward,  and  leaving  the  valleys 
still  farther  and  farther  below.  The  views  from  the  head  of  the  train 
were  grand  beyond  description.  Starting  from  Piedmont,  and  looking 
up  at  the  mountain  walls,  piled  together  by  the  Creator  on  every  side, 
we  naturally  wondered  by  what  pass  we  could  hope  to  issue  from  the 
fastnesses  which  surrounded  us.  Escape  was  impossible,  so  far  as  it 
depended  upon  any  visible  outlet.  There  lay  the  track  in  front  of  us, 
but  it  seemed  to  dive  directly  into  the  foot  of  the  elevations  towering 
before  us,  and  there  to  find  an  impassable  barrier.  But  these,  like 
other  difficulties,  vanished  as  we  approached  them.  A  graceful  curve 
winds  our  train  out  of  harm,  and  we  dash  along  in  safety  and  with 
perfect  ease  over  the  mountain  path  laid  out  by  human  science  and 
skill,  plunging  speedily  into  a  perfect  wilderness  of  forest  and  rock, 
with  no  sign  of  civilization  except  one  or  two  log-houses  and  garden 
patches  perched  away  up  on  the  very  summit  of  a  peak,  and  occupied 
by  some  recluse  who  makes  his  living  by  hunting  deer  during  the  win- 
ter, and  in  the  suniiner  cultivates  a  little  field  of  corn  and  potatoes  for 
amusement  merely. 

During  our  outside  ride  we  were  overtaken  by  a  heavy  shower  of 
rain,  which,  with  the  howling  of  a  sudden  gust  of  wind  through  the 


MARTmSBURG   STATION, 

100  Miles  from  Baltimore,  and  the  Dividing  Point  between  the  First  and 
Second  Divisions  of  the  Road. 


PARTIAL  VIEW  OF 

RESIDENCE  OF  HON.  C.  J.  FAULKNER, 

Martinsburg,  Va.,  on  the  Balt.  &  Ohio  R.  R. 


THE    GREAT    PIEDMONT    GRADE ALTAMONT THE    GLAUKS.       157 

ravines,  heard  despite  the  roaring  of  our  fiery  steed,  only  added  to  the 
grandeur  and  sublimity  of  the  scene.  Our  course,  after  finally  crossing 
the  Potomac  near  Blooniington,  two  miles  above  Piedmont,  overhung 
the  Savage  River,  Avhich  boils  down  the  western  shoulder  of  Savage 
Mountain,  and  was  left  full  two  hundred  feet  below  us  ere  Ave  readied 
tlie  summit,  appearing  like  an  attenuated  thread  of  living  crystal 
drawn  out  far  below  our  feet,  and  viewed  across  the  top  of  the  tallest 
trees  of  the  valley  through  which  it  flows. 

From  the  mouth  of  Crab-Tree  Creek,  a  wild  tributary  of  the  Savage 
— itself  a  wilder  tributary  of  the  Potomac, — where  the  road  turns  the 
flank  of  the  great  backbone  mountain,  the  view  up  the  Savage  to  the 
north,  and  along  Crab-Tree  Creek  to  the  south-Avest,  is  magnificent, — 
the  latter  presenting  a  vista  of  several  miles  up  a  deep  and  gradually 
narrowing  gorge,  and  the  former  a  bird's-eye  view  of  a  sinuous  ravine, 
bounded  by  mountain  ridges  of  great  elevation.  "Winding  up  the 
gorge  of  Crab-Tree  Creek  we  come  to  an  excavation,  or  Kailroad 
"Cut,"  an  liundred  and  twenty  feet  deej),  through  a  rocky  spur  of 
the  mountain,  and  five  miles  from  its  mouth  we  cross  the  creek  on  an 
embankment  of  67  feet  in  height. 

Seventeen  miles  west  of  Piedmont  we  reached  Altaraont,  the  "top 
of  the  mountain,"  Ucenty -six  hundred  and  iicentyie&'i  ahoxQ  tide-water, 
and  the  greatest  elevation  on  the  route — indeed  the  greatest  railway 
altitude  in  the  country,  we  believe — having  made  the  ascent  so  gradu- 
ally that  it  was  difficult  to  realize  that  the  stupendous  obstructions  to 
our  westward  passage  presented  by  the  Alleghanies,  had  actually  been 
80  easily  and  so  safely  vanquished.  We  passed  this  dividing  ridge  be- 
tween the  Potomac  and  Ohio  waters,  by  a  loiig  open  cut  of  upwards 
of  thirty  feet  in  depth,  and  struck  the  "Glades,"  the  beautiful  and  fer- 
tile natural  meadows,  extending  a  distance  of  nineteen  miles  to  Cran- 
berry Summit,  and  jdentifully  watered  by  the  Yougliiogheny  and  its 
numerous  tributaries.  Tlie  meadows  are  plentifully  interspersed  with 
forest  groves  in  all  their  native  wildness,  and  divided  by  narrow 
ridges,  which  break  them  up  into  a  series  of  unfenced  fields,  over 
which  the  herds  rove  almost  as  wild  as  the  buftalo  on  our  western 
plains.  This  region  is  famed  throughout  Virginia  and  Maryland  for 
its  excellent  butter  no  less  than  its  superior  mutton,  abundant  venison 
and  other  game,  and  innumerable  trout  streams,  alive  Avith  specimens 
of  tlie  spotted  beauties,  such  as  Avould  thrill  the  heart  of  Izak  Walton 
Avith  joy.  Prof.  Henry,  of  llie  Smithsonian  Institution,  Avho  leisurely 
crossed  the  Alleghanies  by  this  route,  not  long  since,  in  company  with 
the  historian  Bancroft,  Brantz  Mayer,  Prof.  Morfit,  and  others,  has 


158  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

recently  arranged  for  meteorological  observations  at  Oakland  Station, 
near  the  centre  of  this  elevated  table  land. 

The  little  village  of  Oakland,  nestled  in  the  centre  of  the  Glades, 
promises  to  become,  "within  a  few  years,  a  favorite  summer  resort  for 
those  who  seek  healthful  recreation  and  pure  air,  rather  than  the 
fashionable  dissipations  of  Saratoga  and  Newport.  A  modest  but  com- 
fortable hotel  is  located  here,  which  has  already  made  quite  a  reputa- 
tion among  enterprising  sportsmen  and  health-seeking  travellers.  The 
air  of  this  region  is  highly  raretied,  and  very  cool  and  bracing  through- 
out the  sultry  summer  months.  When  the  denizens  of  the  cities  ftir  be- 
low are  sweltering  in  the  heats  of  August,  groaning  out  sleepless  nights 
under  mosquito  bar  canojjies,  woollen  blankets  are  found  comfortable 
on  this  n.ountain-top,  and  the  sleeper  rises  in  the  cool  morning  with  a 
new  lease  of  life,  refreshed  and  invigorated  for  whatever  sport  the  day 
has  in  store.  The  writer  spent  a  brief  season  here  in  the  summer  of 
1856,  and  remembers  well  that  while  the  sunlight  air  was  most  de- 
licious, the  morning  cf  the  1st  of  June — just  a  year  preceding  this 
railroad  excursion — was  ushered  in  by  a  snow-storm,  which  would 
have  been  ci'editable  to  December.  A  few  minutes  after  sunrise  all 
evidence  of  the  wintry  visitation  was  passing  away  in  the  streandets 
flowing  at  every  side,  leaping  in  innumerable  sparkling  cascades  as 
they  course  along  towards  the  rivers  which  draw  from  them  their 
crystal  supplies.     Oakland  is  232  miles  from  Baltimore. 

"We  crossed  the  Youghiogheny  between  one  and  two  miles  west  of 
Oakland,  by  a  single  arch  of  timber  and  iron,  of  180  feet  span,  and  passed 
the  picturesque  falls  of  Snowy  Creek,  where  the  road  quits  the  plains, 
and  strikes  a  mountain-glen,  through  which  the  stream  tumbles  and 
foams  rapidly  downward,  contrasting  prettily  with  the  hemlocks  and 
laurels  which  fringe  its  course. 

At  Cranberry  Summit  the  mountain  levels  terminate  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  2,550  feet  above  tide-water,  and  we  enter  upon  tlie  grades  by 
which  we  are  to  descend  tlie  western  slopes.  From  this  elevated  point 
we  obtained  the  first  grand  glimpse  of  the  "  Western  World,"  and  tlie 
successive  depressions  of  the  Allegliauies  upon  that  side  over  which 
we  were  about  to  descend  towards  the  Ohio.  Some  of  the  grandest 
distant  views  on  the  whole  line  are  obtained  by  looking  westward  in 
the  four  miles  beyond  Cranberry  Summit.  We  began  our  downward 
path  at  once  after  passing  the  Summit  Station.  The  descent  of 
eleven  miles  to  Cheat  River  presented  a  rapid  succession  of  heavy  ex- 
cavations and  embankments,  and  two  tunnels,  both  now  beins;  arched 


RUINS  OF  "OLD  FOUT  FREDERICK," 

On  the  Maryland  Side  of  the  Potomac  River,  in  View  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
Railroad,  109  Miles  from  Baltimore. 


POTOMAC   SCENERY, 

WITH  THE  CANAL  ON  THE  MARYLAND  STDE, 
From  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad,  between  Berkeley  Springs  and  Cumberland. 


OAKLANDS THE    CRANBERRY    GRADE CHEAT    RIVER.  159 

•with  stone  and  brick, — the  McGiiire  tunnel  five  hundred  and  the  Eo- 
denier  tunnel  four  liundred  feet  in  length.  The  Salt  Lick  Creek,  -which 
wo  bordered  in  our  approach  to  the  Cheat  River,  passes  tlirouj^h  a 
dense  forest  of  fir-trees.  Cranberry  Summit  is  242  miles  from  Balti- 
more. 

Cheat  River  is  a  rapid  mountain-stream,  of  a  dark  cofiee-colored 
•water,  which  is  supposed  to  take  its  hue  fi'om  the  forests  of  laurel, 
hemlock,  and  black  spruce  in  which  it  has  its  rise.  Our  road  crossed 
the  stream  at  the  foot  of  Cranberry  grade  by  a  viaduct.  This  is  com- 
posed of  two  noble  spans  of  iron,  roofed  in  on  abutments,  and  a  pier 
of  solid  freestone  taken  from  a  neighboring  quarry.  Arrived  at  this 
point  we  fairly  entered  the  "  Cheat  River  Valley,"  which  presents  by 
far  the  grandest  and  most  boldly  picturesque  scenery  to  be  found  on 
the  line  of  this  road,  if  indeed  it  is  not  the  finest  series  of  railroad 
views  on  our  continent.  The  European  travellers  in  our  party  were 
as  much  enraptured  by  it  as  were  those  of  us  who  have  never  visited 
the  mountains,  lakes  and  glens  of  Scotia  or  Switzerland.  For  several 
miles  we  ran  along  the  steep  mountain-side,  clinging,  as  it  Avere,  to 
the  gigantic  clifts,  our  cars  like  great  cages  suspended — though  upon 
the  safest  and  most  solid  of  beds — midwa}'-,  as  it  were,  between 
heaven  and  earth.  At  one  moment  the  view  was  confined  to  our 
immediate  locality,  hemmed  in  on  every  side,  as  we  were,  by  the 
towering  mountain  spurs.  At  the  next,  a  slight  curve  in  the  road 
opened  to  view  fine  stretches  of  the  deep  valley,  "with  the  dark  river 
flowing  along  its  bottom,  and  glorious  views  of  the  forest-covered 
slopes  descending  from  the  peaks  to  the  water's  edge.  Amazed  at 
the  grandeur  of  the  ever-varying  scenery  of  this  region,  the  French 
Minister  is  said  to  have  exclaimed  in  ecstasy,  '■'■  Magnifique  !  Zere  is 
nossing  like  zls  in  France  !  " 

Tiie  engineering  difficulties  overcome  in  the  part  of  the  road 
•within  the  first  few  miles  west  of  Cheat  River  bridge,  nmst  have  been 
appalling,  but  for  us  the  rough  places  had  been  made  smooth  as  the 
prairie  levels.  After  crossing  the  river  itself  at  Rowlesburg,  the  next 
point  was  to  ascend  along  itsbaidvs  tlie  "  Cheat  River  Hill."  The  ravine 
of  Kyer's  Run,  a  mile  from  the  bridge,  seventy-six  feet  deep,  was 
crossed  by  a  solid  embankment.  Tiien,  after  bold  cutting  along  the 
steep  rocky  hill-side,  we  reached  Buck-eye  Hollow,  which  is  one  hun- 
dred and  eight  feet  below  the  road  level,  and  finally  came  to  Tray  Run, 
which  we  crossed  at  a  height  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  its 
original  bed  by  a  splendid  viaduct,  six  hundred  feet  lonp,  founded  on 
a  massive  base  of  masonry  piled  upon  the  solid  rock  below.     These 


160  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

viaducts  are  of  ironj — designed  by  Mr.  Albert  Fink,  one  of  Mr.  La- 
trobe's  assistants, — and  are  exceeding!}-  graceful,  as  Avell  as  very  sub- 
stantial structures.  ^Vhen  we  reached  the  west  end  of  the  great  Tray 
Eun  Viaduct  the  cars  halted,  and  the  company  alighted  for  a  better  view 
of  the  works.  A  walk  of  a  few  feet  brought  us  to  the  brow  of  the  preci- 
l^ice  overlooking  the  river,  nearly  three  hundred  feet  below. 

The  view  from  this  spot,  both  of  the  scenery  and  the  grand  structure 
which  so  splendidly  spanned  the  immense  mountain  ravine,  was  truly 
inspiring.  From  our  great  elevation  the  stream  appeared  to  be  almost 
beneath  our  feet,  an  illusion  promptly  dispelled  when  the  strongest 
and  longest-armed  among  us  failed  to  throw  a  stone  far  enough  to  drop 
it  in  its  bed.  With  the  entire  train  full  of  guests,  the  band  also 
alighted  here,  and^ taking  position  near  the  clitf,  struck  up  the  popular 
air  of  "  Love  Not,"  in  sweet  harmony  with  the  emotions  inspired  by 
the  scene.  The  sun  had  just  retired  behind  the  distant  mountain  top 
at  the  head  of  the  valley,  casting  a  lengthened  shadow  over  the  place, 
and  leaving  us  quite  alone  in  the  grand  and  stupendous  solitude,  all 
things  combining  to  impress  us  deeply  with  the  intiuence  of  the  solemn 
poetry  of  Xature,  whose  sanctum  sanctorum  we  seemed  to  have  in- 
vaded. The  shrill  note  of  the  steam  whistle  recalled  us  to  the  realities 
of  our  position,  and  we  reluctantly  resumed  our  seats  to  be  whirled 
along  on  our  westward  journey. 

Passing  two  great  clefts  in  the  mountain,  we  wound  upAvard  across 
Buckhorn  Branch,  and  lialf  a  mile  further  left  the  declivities  of  Cheat 
Kiver,  wliich  meanders  oft"  to  the  north,  and  of  which  we  obtained  a 
last  glimpse  through  a  tall  arch  of  forests  reposing  in  its  wealth  of 
wilderness  solitude  far,  far  below.  The  mind  of  the  beliolder  of  the 
stupendous  works  of  engineering  that  characterize  tliis  division  of  the 
road,  involuntarily  praises  the  genius  that  wrought  them,  and  they  will 
prove  the  enduring  apotheosis  to  Bkxjamix  H.  Latrobe. 

At  Cassidy's  Kidgo,  nearly  a  mile  from  the  river,  and  eighty  miles 
from  Cumberland,  we  found  ourselves  entering  tlie  great  western  coal 
field  of  the  Alle.r!iany  range.  Here  again  our  road  tinds  a  threatening 
barrier  to  its  further  jjrogress.  Hitherto  for  a  long  distance  up  hill 
and  down,  through  ravine  and  brake,  on  shelves  overhanging  preci- 
])ices,  or  carried  over  the  deepest  dells  by  massive  viaducts,  our  steed 
had  thundered  along  all  the  way  from  Piedmont  like  a  giant  prisoner, 
chafing  his  bars  and  resolutely  seeking  release.  But  the  mountain  can- 
not 1)6  turned  again.  There  is  no  depression — no  descending  valley — 
no  cleft  in  the  hills  through  which  it  is  possible  to  find  escape.  By 
bursting  through  the  wall  of  the  vast  prison-house  alone  can  we  hope 


YIKVV  OF  CUMBEHLAND,     , 

Oh  the  Baltimobe  &  Ohio  Railroad,  179  Miles  from   Baltimore. 


<"^'^< 


='te^fc. 


'^0'^, 


PIEDMONT  STATION,  B.  &  0.  R.  R.,  ! 

At  the  "Foot  of  the  Mountain,"  20"  Miles  from  Baltimore,  and  the  Dividing  PoinI 

BETWEEN  THE  SeCOND  AND  ThIRD  (OR  "  MoCNTAIN  ")     DIVISIONS  OF  THE    ROAD. 


OAKLAND  STATION,  with  the  "GLADES  HOTEL, 

On  the  Baltimore  anu  Ohio  Railroad.  234  Miles  from  Baltimork, 
AND  2,500  Fekt  above  Tide  Water. 


GRAND  DISTANT  MOUNTAIN  VIEW, 

Feom  the  "Crankrrry  GisADE,"'  Halt.  &  Ohio  Railrkah.  iHl  ,Mii,i.-<  i  hom  Bai.timork. 


THE    KINGWOOD    TLNN'EL — GltKAT    ENGINEERING.  161 

for  an  outlet.  For  awliile,  before  the  entire  completion  of  the  road,  a 
track  was  la'd  across  this  steep  siiiiimit  with  an  ascent  of  500  feet  to 
the  mile,  over  which  iron  for  the  track  westward  Avas  hauled  by  a 
locomotive  engine,  which  propelled  a  single  car  at  a  time,  weighing 
with  its  load  eighteen  tons,  at  a  speed  of  ten  miles  an  hour  or  more. 
This  plane,  however,  was  not  available  for  trade  and  travel ;  and  so 
the  last  westward  wall  of  tlie  Alleghanies  was  pierced  by  the  Xingwood 
Tunnel,  through  which  we  passed.  This  subterranean  passage,  4,100 
feet  in  length, — not  including  its  ''  approach  cuts," — was  made.  Crowds 
of  laborers  spent  nearly  three  years  in  opening  it,  and  another  year 
and  a  half  in  arching  it  with  brick,  iron  and  stone.  The  entire  cost  of 
the  tunnel,  in  all  its  elements,  from  the  first  to  its  ]jresent  complete 
state,  has  exceeded  a  million  of  dollars  !  The  formidable  character  of 
this  great  work,  originally,  will  be  appreciated,  when  we  state  that  some 
two  hundred  thousand  cubic  yards  of  earth  and  rock  were  removed  in 
constructing  the  tunnel  itself,  and  grading  its  approaches.  A  still 
greater  triumph  of  skill  and  industry,  perhaps,  has  been  since  achieved 
in  the  work  of  widening  for  two  tracks,  and  permanently  arching  this 
great  tunnel.  To  Wendel  Bollman,  tlie  road-master,  and  his  splendid, 
operating  corps,  the  credit  for  this  is  due,  Avhile  Mr.  Latrobe's  name 
also  properly  graces  the  cap-stone  as  its  Chief  Engineer. 

Leaving  Kingwood  Tunnel,  the  line  for  five  miles  descends  along  a 
steep  hill-side  to  the  flats  of  Raccoon  Creek,  at  Newburg  Station, 
eighty-eight  miles  from  Cumberland,  and  two  hundred  and  sixty-six 
from  Baltimore.  In  this  distance,  it  lies  high  above  the  valley,  and 
crosses  a  branch  of  it  with  an  embankment  one  hundred  feet  in  eleva- 
tion. Two  miles  west  of  the  Kingwood  Tunnel,  is  Murray's  Tunnel, 
two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  a  regular  and  beautiful  semicircular 
arch  cut  out  of  a  fine  solid  sandstone  rock,  overlaying  a  vein  of  coal 
six  feet  thick,  which  is  seen  on  the  floor  of  the  tunnel.  From  New- 
burg,  westward,  the  route  pursues  the  valleys  of  Raccoon  and  Three 
Forks  Creeks,  which  present  no  features  of  difficulty,  to  the  moutli  of 
the  latter,  one  hundred  and  one  miles  from  Cumberland,  at  tiie  Ty- 
gart's  A^'alley  River,  at  Grafton,  the  junction  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  with  the  Northwestern  Virginia  Road,  the  newly-completed 
branch  line  to  Parkersburg  on  the  Ohio. 

"When  we  had  emerged  thus  far  out  of  the  mountain  fastnesses  and 
entered  in  the  softer  and  more  human  region  of  Tygart's  Valley,  our 
railroad  managers  from  the  East,  who  had  witnessed  this  gi'eat  work 
for  the  first  time,  were  earnest  in  praise  of  the  bold  enterprise  and  the 
engineering  skill  which  had  braved  and  subdued  the  magnificent  wil- 


162  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPKNINO. 

(lerness  tlirougli  which  tliey  had  just  passed.  It  was  conceded  that 
Mr.  Latrobe  and  liis  assistants  had  established  the  feasibihty  of  pass- 
ing, by  rail,  over  any  mountain  in  the  country.  Such  grades  as  he 
had  introduced  with  success  wei'e  never  essayed  before.  He  is  en- 
titled to  the  honors  of  pioneership  in  that  respect,  as  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Eailroad  Company  is  to  the  same  honors  in  the  railroad 
history  of  the  United  States, 


VIEW  ON  "CHEAT  RIVER  GRADE," 

At  the  Tray  Run  Iron  and  Stone   Viaduct.  257   Miles  from   Bai.timuke. 


MPERFECT  SKETCH  OF  THE  "CHEAT  RIVER  VALLEY," 

On  the   Baltimouk  k  Ohio   IJ  \ilkoai>.  ■2-)\t  Miles   from    Baltimore,  taken  at  the 
Point  where  the  Uoad  leavks  the  Kiveu  and  turns  to\v\hi>  Kinowood  I'unnel. 


VIEW  OF   EASTERN  END  OF 

THE  GREAT  "KING WOOD   TUNNEL," 

On  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad,  260  Miles  from  Baltimore. 

With  its  Stone  Copings,  Double  Track,  and  Line  of  the  formerly  used 
Temporary  Track  over  the  Hill. 


GRAFTON: 

JUNCTION  OF  BALTIMORE  4-  OHIO  WITH  NORTHWESTERN  VIRGINIA  RAILROAD, 

279  Miles  from  Baltimore. 

The  Road  to  Wheeling  is  seen  in  the  foreground,  while  the  Road  to  Parkersburg  crosses  the  Tygarll 
Valley  River  by  the  new  Iron  Bridge.    The  Road  Workshops  and  the  new  Hotel  are  seen  in  the  forks. 


THE 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF   1857. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SOJOURN  AT  GRAFTON  JUNCTION— TRIP  TO  PARKERSBURG,  AND 
ARRIVAL  AT  MARIETTA. 

We  reached  Grafton — Avhere  it  was  arranged  that  we  sliould  lie  over 
for  the  niglit — at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening.  Our  approacli  was  hailed 
-with  salvos  of  artillery,  and  bonfires  were  lighted  on  tlie  surrounding 
bills,  spreading  a  lurid  glare  over  the  crowd  of  villagers  who  had 
turned  out  en  masse  to  receive  us.  Wearied  with  a  day  of  pleasurable 
excitement  the  company  gladly  left  the  cars  and  entered  the  railroad 
hotel,  conveniently  located  here  just  across  the  station  platform. 
These  hotel  buildings,  recently  erected  by  tlie  Kailroad  Company  for 
the  convenience  of  their  patrons,  though  not  of  extremely  large  size, 
are  replete  with  conveniences,  and  kept  in  a  highly  creditable  manner. 
It  is  not  often  that  its  business  will  call  for  more  than  the  sixty 
comfortable  sleeping-rooms  Avith  which  it  is  provided, — but  the  din- 
ing-room is  spacious  enough  for  the  accommodation  of  quite  two 
hundred  guests  at  one  sitting.  Our  experience  at  supper  and  break- 
fast gave  pleasing  assurance  that  its  affairs  are  administered  with 
more  than  ordinary  skill  and  liberality. 

After  supper  the  ladies  and  elderly  gentlemen  of  the  party  were 
allotted  the  sleeping  apartments  of  the  house,  and  the  youngsters  put 
up  for  the  night  in  comfortable  sleeping-cars  upon  the  side  tracks  of  the 
road.  In  this  way  all  Avere  accommodated  for  the  night.  Wiiile 
these  arrangements  were  making  the  Blues  Band  favored  us  with  a 
serenade,  soothing  the  travellers  into  slumber,  and  delighting  the  vil- 
lagers who  still  thronged  the  premises  in  large  numbers,  manifesting 
their  gratification  in  enthusiastic  rounds  of  applause. 

Long  before  the  sun,  peeping  over  the  hills,  had  dispelled  the  mists 


164 


GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 


of  the  following  morning,  our  party  was  astir,  refreshed  by  tlie  night's 
rest  and  invigorated  by  the  bracing  air.  Now  the  party  had  an  op- 
portunity to  take  a  look  at  Grafton,  which  was  found  pleasantly  and 
picturesquely  located  near  the  three  forks  of  Tygart's  Valley  River,  one 
of  the  main  branches  of  the  Monongahela.  Tliough  young  yet,  it  bears 
upon  its  face  the  evidences  of  progress  and  prosperity,  i)romising  to 
become  at  some  day  a  much  more  important  place  tlian  it  is  at  present. 
The  company  of  excursionists  was  considerably  increased  here  by 
guests  who  liad  preceded  us  thus  far,  others  who  overtook  us  during 
the  night  by  the  regular  train  from  the  east,  and  still  others  wlio  met 
us  here  from  the  Ohio.  Among  the  latter  were  A.  Caldwell,  Esq., 
Mayor  of  Wheeling,  several  members  of  the  city  council,  and  a  num- 
ber of  private  citizens  from  the  same  place. 

At  six  o'clock  A.M.,  having  breakfasted,  we  resumed  our  seals  in 
the  cars,  i)laced  in  two  trains,  the  conductors  shouted  "  all  aboard,'' 
the  whistle  sounded,  and  away  we  sped  on  our  journey  towards  the 
Ohio  at  Parkersburg,  via  the  Northwestern  Virginia  Railroad.  The 
following  special  Time  Table  had  been  prepared  for  our  train,  and  was 
run  with  scrupulous  exactitude. 

TiaiE  Table  for  Special  Passenger  Train  from  Grafton  to  Parkersburg, 
Tuesday,  June  2d,  1857. 


Stations. 

Mile.s. 

Time. 

Remarks. 

Grafton 

Webster 

Simpson's 

Flemmino'ton 

...leave 

■■■4" 

8 
10 
17 
22 

"26" 
36 
41 
46 
50 
52 

"ss" 

62 

67 
72 
74 

6.00      A.M. 

6.10 

6.19 

6.24        " 

6.40 

6  52        " 

6.55        " 

705 

7.28 

7.40 

7.51 

8.00       " 

8.05 

8.08 

8.22        " 

8.32        " 

8.46 

8.58        "  T 

9.03 

Bridgeport 

Clakksburg  ...... 

..arrive 

u 

Wilsonburg 

Salem.... 

Lon<T  Kun 

leave 

Smith  son 

West  Union 

Central 

Toll  Gate 

. .  arrive 

leave 

Pcnnsboro' 

Meet  Tonnage  Trains  East. 

Cairo 

FROM    GRAFTOX   JUNCTION    TO    PARKERSBURG. 


165 


Stations. 


REMARKS. 


Petroleum arrive 

"  leave 

Walker's  

Kanawha 

Claj'sville 

Parkersburg arrive 


82 

00 

97 
104 


9.23 
9.26 
9.45 
9.56 
10.03 
10.20 


(To  be  used  only  on  the  2d  June.) 


The  regular  Passenger  and  Freight  Trains,  East  and  West,  will  be  run  as 
usual  upon  thi.s  day. 

W.  S.  WOODSIDE, 
B.  L.  Jacobs,  Master  of  Transportation, 

Supervisor  of  Trains,  N.  W.  Va.  R.  R. 

This  road,  it  will  be  seen,  is  one  Imndi-ed  and  foui*  miles  long.  It 
lies  through  a  very  rough  but  fertile  country,  wherever  subdued  to 
purposes  of  cultivation.  The  ridges  running  generally  parallel  with 
the  Ohio,  it  was  impossible  to  find  a  course  for  the  road  along  the 
sides  of  the  elevations  or  in  the  valleys.  In  constructing  the  work  it 
■was  necessary  therefore  to  strike  boldly  across  the  country  direct  for 
the  Ohio  terminus  of  the  line,  passing  the  ridges  by  no  less  than 
twenty-three  tunnels  and  many  deep  cuts,  and  crossing  the  valleys 
transversely  by  heavy  embankments. 

These  characteristics  of  this  route  led  us  to  the  conviction  that  we 
had  discovered  the  ''underground  railroad"  at  last.  Assuredly  no 
more  appropriate  designation  could  be  found  for  the  western  portion 
of  the  line.  The  country  through  which  it  passes,  though  rugged,  is 
well  adapted  to  grazing,  and  already  boasts  a  number  of  thriving 
towns. 

Clarksburg,  Va.,  twenty-two  miles  from  Grafton,  prettily  located 
in  a  more  open  country,  is  the  centre  of  a  grazing  district,  from 
wiiich  Baltimore  obtains  a  considerable  instalment  of  her  finest  beef. 
It  is  the  county  town  of  Harrison,  one  of  the  richest  portions  of  the 
State.  Here  we  were  greeted  by  a  large  and  good-looking  collection 
of  the  natives,  of  both  sexes.  An  immense  business  is  done  on  the 
line  of  the  road  in  staves,  of  which  we  saw  enough  apparently  to 
barrel  the  Mississippi, — or,  if  that  figure  is  not  strong  enough — coop 
up  all  the  whiskey  which  floats  down  the  "father  of  waters  "  and  its 
tributaries.  The  country  traversed  by  the  road  is  exceedingly  rich  in 
minerals.     Of  coal  its  supplies  are  inexhaustible. 


166  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

The  bed  of  the  road  is  twenty  feet  wide  in  excavation,  and  sixteen 
in  etnbankuient,  designed  for  a  single  track  except  at  sidings.  The 
tunnels  are  excavated  not  less  than  sixteen  feet  in  width  by  eighteen 
in  height,  and  are  substantially  timbered,  so  as  to  make  them  per- 
fectly safe  until  they  may  be  finally  arched.  The  masonry  is  of  the 
best  materials,  in  large  blocks,  regularly  ranged,  and  laid  mostly  Avith- 
out  mortar.  The  superstructures  of  the  bridges  are  upon  the  plan  of 
Mr.  A.  Fink,  previously  tested  by  Mr.  Latrobe  upon  the  "  Main  Stem" 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Oliio  Road. 

The  track  is  composed  of  T  rail, -weighing  fifty -two  pounds  per 
yard,  three  and  a  half  inches  high,  of  the  same  width  at  the  base,  and 
two  and  a  quarter  inches  wide  at  the  top.  Two-thirds  of  the  rails  are 
of  English  manufacture,  of  superior  quality.  The  remainder  of  the 
iron  was  rolled  at  Mount  Savage  (near  Cumberland)  and  Wheeling 
mills,  and,  it  is  hoped,  Avill  not  come  short  of  the  standard  of  the  im- 
ported rail.  The  shortest  radius  upon  the  road  is  one  thousand  feet, 
and  the  heaviest  grade  fifty-two  feet  to  the  mile.  The  principal 
tunnel  is  twenty-seven  hundred  feet  in  length.  The  culverts  across 
narrow  ravines,  and  bridges  over  water  runs  are  almost  innumerable. 
The  construction  of  so  fine  a  work  as  this,  through  such  a  country, 
adds  well-earned  laurels  to  the  brow  of  Mr.  Latrobe,  the  engineer,  to 
w-hose  enterprising  skill,  aided  and  sustained  by  the  financial  energies 
of  Mr.  Swann  and  others,  the  country  is  chiefly  indebted  for  its  suc- 
cessful completion. 

Ten  miles'  east  of  Parkersburg  we  struck  the  bank  of  the  Little 
Kanawha  River,  and  bowled  down  its  quiet  valley  to  the  Ohio  ter- 
minus of  the  Northwestern  Virginia  Road,  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  miles  from  Baltimore,  and  the  first  division  of,  as  the  Cincin- 
natians  call  it,  ''The  American  Central  Railroad  Line."  Our  approach 
was  liailed  with  every  demonstration  of  rejoicing  by  a  very  large 
assemblage  of  tlie  people  of  Parkersburg  and  the  surrounding  countrj\ 
Cannon  were  fired,  bands  of  music  sounded  our  welcome,  and  the 
Virginia  ladies  greeted  us  with  bright  eyes,  and  the  waving  of  hand 
kerchiefs.  Altogether  it  was  a  scene  quite  refreshing  and  pleasing  to 
all  concerned.  It  should  be  remembered  also  that  at  all  the  stations 
on  the  route  from  Grafton  to  Parkersbui-g  the  people  had  collected  for 
miles  to  greet  us  as  we  passed,  and  the  enthusiasm  manifested  indicated 
the  general  joy  with  Avhich  this  outlet  to  a  region  cut  ofi"  from  the  rest 
of  the  world  is  hailed  by  all  classes.  The  depot  at  this  place  is  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  United  States,  being  over  eight  hundred  feet  in 
length.     It  will  safely  enclose  seventy-five  of  the  largest  class  cars; 


THE  PARKERSBL'RG  TEUMINUS BLANNERHASSET  ISLAND.         167 

has  Storage  room  for  sixteen  thousand  barrels  of  flour,  and  altogether 
is  one  of  the  most  litly  arranged  railroad  stations  to  be  met  with.  It 
fronts  its  entire  length  on  the  Kanawha  River,  and  is  only  about  one 
hundred  yards  from  the  Oliio.  It  combines  great  facilities  for  the 
arrival  and  departure  of  passengers,  and  the  transhipment  of  freight 
by  drays  on  the  land  side,  and  hoisting  machinery  on  the  water  side. 
The  outer  station  consists  of  an  extensive  and  beautifully  situated  area 
of  fifteen  acres  upon  the  upper  plateau  of  the  town,  out  of  reach  of 
high  water,  and  Avitli  sufficient  front  upon  the  Kanawha  and  the  turn- 
pike to  give  ready  access  to  them  both.  On  this  ground  is  a  brick 
engine  house  and  workshop,  with  a  water-house  under  the  same  roof. 

Tlie  town  of  Parkersburg  is  advantageously  located  on  a  high  bluff 
at  the  junction  of  the  Ohio  with  the  Kanawha.  Though  civilization 
has  somewhat  modified  and  tamed  the  natural  appearance  of  the 
locality,  it  yet  presents  much  to  remind  us  of  the  still  current  legends 
of  the  trials  .'«id  struggles  of  which  it  was  the  scene  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  Western  Virginia.  There  is  scarce  a  point  in  sight  which  has 
not  connected  with  it  some  tale  of  bloody  massacre,  or  thrilling  hair- 
breadth escape,  or  undying  deed  of  bravery  in  resistance  to  savage 
outrage. 

The  town  presents  on  every  side  abundant  evidence  of  vigorous 
growth  and  extraordinary  prosperity.  During  the  last  year  an  excel- 
lent liotel — the  '■  Swann  House" — has  been  erected.  The  building  is 
of  brick,  contains  forty  chambers,  can  accommodate  about  one  hundred 
persons,  and  is  doing  a  flourishing  business.  The  town  contains  also 
six  modern-built  church  edifices,  occupied  by  as  many  different  de- 
nominations. It  also  boasts  a  sound  bank,  two  daily  papers — the 
Gazette  and  Xews, — a  number  of  steam  flour  and  saw  mills,  and 
several  manufactories.  One  of  the  latter,  a  wooden  ware  establish- 
ment, uses  up  every  particle  of  wood  brouglit  within  its  walls,  turning 
out  every  thing  in  the  shape  of  wooden  ware,  from  a  whiskey  barrel 
to  a  match  box. 

Standing  upon  the  bluflf  in  front  of  the  town  we  had  a  fine  view 
of  Blannerhasset  Island,  a  little  way  down  the  Ohio  River,  whose 
wild  and  natural  beauties,  no  less  than  the  melancholy  history  with 
which  its  name  is  associated,  have  made  it  familiar  to  us  all.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  this  picturesque  little  islet,  which  gems  the  bosom 
of  the  Ohio  like  an  emerald  on  the  breast  of  beauty,  Avas  the  residence 
and  estate  of  Herman  Blannerhasset,  an  Irish  gentleman  of  wealth, 
intellect,  thorough  mental  culture,  and  all  the  enthusiasm  of  his  race. 
Nestled  away  in  the  ornamental  forests  of  In's  island  home,  and  em- 


168  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD     OPENING. 

ploying  his  leisure  in  the  cultivation  of  refined  and  elegant  tastes,  it 
seemed  as  though  Blannerhasset  was  surrounded  by  all  that  could 
contribute  to  his  comfort  and  happiness.  Here,  in  unambitious  re- 
tirement, Aaron  Burr  found  him.  The  quick  perception  of  that  wily 
and  unprincipled  political  gamester  saw  in  him  a  man  capable  of  the 
most  generous  self-sacrifices  in  the  service  of  any  friend  or  cause 
whose  interest  he  should  espouse.  Burr  marked  him  at  once  for  sub- 
jection to  his  will  as  a  valuable  instrument ;  and,  bringing  his  artful 
batteries  to  bear  upon  his  Avarni-hearted  victim,  soon  succeeded  in 
Avinning  him  to  his  purposes,  and  attaching  him  as  an  earnest  friend 
and  coadjutor.  From  that  hour  he  was  lost  as  inevitably  as  is  the 
brave  bark  which  trusts  itself  in  the  fatal  current  of  the  maelstrom. 
The  subsequent  troubles  of  Blannerhasset,  the  seizure  of  his  beautiful 
liome  by  the  government,  the  burning  of  his  beautiful  residence,  his 
flight,  arrest  and  trial,  and  his  death  at  last  in  penury  and  want,  are  all 
matters  of  history.  Blannerhasset  Island,  now  thickly  covered  with 
half  grown  trees,  and  presenting  a  melancholy  scene  of  isolated  deso- 
lation, stands  a  fit  souvenir  of  the  sad  history  of  which  it  was  the 
scene. 

After  a  brief  stay  at  Parkersburg,  we  were  joined  by  a  number  of 
its  prominent  citizens,  including  the  local  Directors  of  the  Nortli- 
western  Virginia  Railroad,  and  proceeded  on  board  the  steamers 
Albemarle  and  John  Buck,  which  were  lying  in  wait  at  the  levee  to 
convey  us  to  Marietta.  "We  should  not  omit  to  mention  that  we  were 
also  joined  at  this  place  by  several  representatives  of  the  Marietta  and 
Cincinnati  Railroad  Company,  and  many  members  of  the  Western 
Press,  who  had  come  thus  far  to  receive  us. 

Swinging  out  into  tlie  stream,  our  vessels  were  lashed  together, 
and  thus  proceeded  leisurely  up  the  river'to wards  Marietta,  some  eleven 
miles  distant,  the  Blues  Band  favoring  us  the  while  with  their  charm- 
ing performances.  In  the  dining  saloon  of  each  steamer  a  sumptuous 
repast  was  served  to  the  guests,  whose  numbers  had  now  swollen  to 
some  five  or  six  hundred. 

After  dinner,  a  meeting  of  the  passengers  was  held  on  the  Albe- 
marle, at  which  Win.  Tracey,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  was  called  to  the 
chair,  and  John  Ritchie,  of  Maryland,  and  Ira  Goodnow,  of  Vermont, 
were  appointed  Secretaries.  The  object  of  the  meeting  was  stated  to 
be  an  embodiment,  in  suitable  form,  of  the  sentiments  of  the  guests 
towards  those  under  whose  auspices  the  excursion  had  proceeded  thus 
far;  and  the  following  gentlemen,  understood  to  represent  "the  Press," 
were  appointed  a  Committee  on  Resolutions: 


THANKS    OF    THE    EXCURSIONISTS    TO  B.  AND    OHIO    RAILROAD.        169 

Win.  B.  Shaw,  New  York  Herald;  Edvv,  Dill,  Washington  Union;  Wm. 
McMasters,  Xeio  York  News;  John  T.  Crow,  Baltimore  Sun  ;  \Vm.  D.  Wallach, 
Wanhington  Star;  Edg.  Fulton,  Baltimore  American;  Jas.  Brooks,  Neiv  York 
Express;  W.  H.  Topping,  Southern  Press;  and  T.  D.  Sultzcr,  Baltimore 
Patriot. 

After  retiring  for  a  few  moments  tlie  committee  returned,  when 
Mr.  Mc^fasters  read  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions: 

Whereas,  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Raih-oad  Company, — the  progress  of 
which,  from  the  time  thej-  started  a  few  horse  cars  for  tlie  transportation  of 
passengers  and  freight,  up  to  the  present  moment,  wlien  they  have  in  complete 
working  a  road  that  is  a  monument  of  art  and  engineering  skill,  has  been  un- 
precedented,— have  united  with  others  in  the  opening  of  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi road ;  therefore, 

Peso/reil,  That  the  President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company, 
the  Master  of  Transportation,  the  Directors  and  Managers,  for  their  unusual 
attention  to  their  guests  in  providing  a  special  train  to  Parkei-sburg,  and  also 
for  providing  food  and  lodging  during  the  entire  trip,  have  displayed  a  munifi- 
cent liberality  hitherto  nnprecedented,  and  deserve  not  only  the  warmest  thanks 
of  all  who  took  part  in  the  excursion,  but  the  most  unbounded  prosperity. 

liesolved,  That  our  warmest  thanks  are  especially  due  to  Prescott  Smith, 
Assistant  Master  of  Transportation;  Wendel  Bollman,  Master  of  Road; 
Henry  Tyson,  Master  of  Machinerj' ;  A.  DifFy  and  B.  L.  Jacobs,  Supervisors 
of  Trains ;  George  A.  Rawlings,  Conductor ;  John  McGoweu,  James  Fulton, 
and  Wm.  Bryan,  Engineers ;  and  M.  C.  Perry,  Baggage  Master,  for  their  un- 
tiring and  gentlemanly  attention  to  the  guests  of  this  excursion  while  on  the 
special  trains  under  their  charge. 

Of  course  these  resolutions  were  adopted  unanimously,  for  ever}'- 
body  had  enjoyed  himself  famously,  and  the  parties  generally  alluded 
to  in  the  resolutions,  so  evidently  deserved  commendation,  that  every 
guest  was  in  haste  to  respond  with  a  wilful  "  aye."  The  intention  of 
the  resolutions  exactly  met  the  views  of  all,  and  so  they  were  adopted 
at  once. 

It  is  to  be  regretted,  perhaps,  that  a  little  time  was  not  taken, 
however,  to  examine  the  resolutions  critically,  and  see  whether  they 
really  conveyed  the  intended  idea,  instead  of  trusting  that  important 
matter  to  the  hurried  supervision  of  the  individual  who  drew  them 
up.  We  are  led  to  this  suggestion  by  the  fact,  that  the  form  of  the 
resolutions  has  been  justly  criticised  in  some  respects.  The  special 
correspondent  of  the  l^ew  York  Times.,  for  instance,  referring  to  the 
subject  in  one  of  his  letters,  points  out  tlie  obvious  impropriety  of 
thanking  "  the  Directors  and  Managers  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  Company,  for  their  ujiusual  attention  to  their  guests,"  on 
this  occasion.  He  objects,  perhaps  with  good  reason,  that  the  lan- 
guage is  invidious,  and  insists  that  attention  is  not  "  unusual"  on  the 


IVO  GREAT    OHIO    A  MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

part  of  the  Company  in  question,  but  that  they  always,  on  every 
occasion,  maintain  an  enviable  reputation  for  kindness,  civility,  and 
"  attention  "  to  their  passengers. 

While  on  our  way  np  the  river,  the  guests  were  formally  trans- 
ferred by  the  officers  of  tlie  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company, 
(through  Mr.  S.  A.  Leakin,  of  the  board,)  to  the  delegation  which 
had  come  from  Marietta  (headed  by  Beman  Gates,  Vice-President 
of  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Eoad)  to  receive  and  escort  them 
to  that  point  of  the  Ohio  frontier.  As  our  steamers  groaned  and 
puffed  along  towards  their  destination  we  obtained  a  fine  view  of 
the  city  of  Marietta,  erected  on  three  successive  plateaus  or  shelves, 
rising  from  the  river  one  after  another,  as  the  country  recedes  from 
the  bank.  The  Muskingum  river,  noted  for  the  immense  quantities 
of  tlonr  milled  upon  its  banks,  flows  into  the  Ohio,  bounding  the 
city  on  its  lower  side  The  appearance  of  the  place  is  not  prepossess- 
-  ing  as  viewed  from  the  river,  although  closer  examination,  Avlien  one 
gets  away  from  the  levee,  shows  it  to  be  exceedingly  neat  and  well 
built,  and  full  of  tanneries  and  other  evidences  of  manufacturing 
wealth.  Its  educational  advantages  are  rarely  surpassed  elsewhere, 
and  Marietta  College,  with  its  valuable  library  and  ample  philosopliical 
apparatus,  has  a  high  reputation  wherever  known. 

The  place,  as  is  well  known,  was  settled  under  the  auspices  of  the 
New  England  Ohio  Company — Gen.  Rufus  Putuam  being  commander 
of  the  expedition,  which  left  tlie  Eastern  settlements  in  the  autumn  of 
1787,  spent  the  winter  in  travelling  across  the  trackless  forests,  and  in 
April  arrived  at  Youghiogheny.  Here  boats  were  built,  and  the  party 
descended  to  the  Muskingum.  On  the  7th  of  April,  1788,  they  landed 
on  the  bank  of  the  river  and  selected  tlie  spot  for  their  settlement; 
thus  planting  the  germ  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  On  the  2d  of  July  a 
meeting  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  naming  the  new  settlement,  and 
after  some  deliberation  the  name  "  Marietta "  was  resolved  on,  in 
honor  of  Mary  Antoinette,  of  France. 

The  first  civil  court  ever  held  in  Ohio,  convened  at  Marietta  on  the 
2d  of  September,  1788.  A  fort  about  this  time  was  erected,  known 
as  Fort  Ilarmar,  on  the  Muskingum,  a  short  distance  from  the  mouth. 
Ship  building  was  subsequently  carried  on  very  successfully.  The  first 
ship  built  Avas  called  the  St.  Clair,  and  Marietta  became  a  port  of 
clearance.  In  the  year  1807,  a  vessel  cleared  from  this  port  with  a 
cargo  of  pork  and  flour,  for  New  Orleans,  thence  she  sailed  to  England, 
and  from  thence  to  St.  Petersburg.     Here  she  was  examined  l)y  tlie 


ARRIVAL    AT    MARIETTA,    OK    THE    OHIO    RAILROAD.  lYl 

oflBcers  of  the  port  and  seized,  the  officers  deciding  there  was  no  such 
port  on  the  civilized  globe.  After  much  difficulty  a  map  of  the  United 
States  was  i)rocured,  and  the  Yankee  Captain,  commencing  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  traced  that  stream  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio, 
and  thence  up  the  latter  to  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum,  where  he 
pointed  out  to  the  astonished  Russians  the  port  of  Marietta, 


THE 

RAILWAY    CELEBRATIONS   OF    1857. 


CHAPTERXVI. 

FIRST  GRAND  RECEPTION  AT  MARIETTA— THE  TRIP  THENCE  TO 
CHILLICOTHE. 

The  river  bank  at  Marietta  was  thronged  with  people,  -wlio  greeted  us 
with  the  booming  of  cannon,  vociferous  cheering,  and  the  martial 
strains  of  fife  and  drum,  all  responded  to  from  the  mouth  of  a  noisy 
swivel,  planted  at  the  bow  of  one  of  our  steamers.  It  was  quite  evi- 
dent that  the  population  had  generally  turned  out  to  meet  us. 

Ascending  the  levee,  we  were  met  by  the  authorities  of  Marietta, 
and  formally  welcomed  to  the  State  of  Ohio  by  its  Governor,  the  Hon. 
Salmon  P.  Chase,  in  the  following  appropriate  remarks  : 

Gentlemen  : — It  is,  indeed,  an  auspicious  occasion  •whicli  unites  the  citi- 
zens of  so  many  States  in  celebrating  the  happy  consummation  of  a  great  work, 
so  lono-  ao-o  commenced,  so  steadily  urged,  and,  at  length,  notwdthstanding 
manifold  discouragements  and  difficulties  almost  innumerable,  so  triumphantly 
accomplished. 

It  is  with  especial  gratification  that  I  welcome  to  our  soU  and  to  our  hos- 
pitalities, the  representatives  of  that  ancient  and  honored  Commonwealth, 
whose  infancy  was  guided  by  the  wisdom  of  religious  toleration,  and  whose 
maturer  a^e  was  illustrated  by  the  conception  and  inauguration  of  the  first 
railroad  attempted  from  the  seaboard,  across  the  mountains,  into  the  vast  in- 
terior tof^ether  with  the  representatives  of  that  ancient  dominion,  honored 
mother  of  Washington  and  JefiFerson,  under  whose  auspices  the  settlement  of 
the  North-west  was  inaugm-ated. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  include  in  this  cordial  welcome  those  mem- 
bers of  the  Federal  Administration,  and  those  senators  and  representatives  of 
our  sister  States  in  the  Federal  Congress,  whose  presence  here  attests  the  na- 
tional value  of  the  occasion,  and  to  see  among  them  the  diplomatic  represent- 


GOV.  chase's  receptiox  speech  at  marietta.  173 

ative  of  that  Frencli  nation  and  French  government,  wliose  dominion  once 
extended  over  all  this  beautiful  land. 

I  greet  with  no  less  satisfaction,  and  with  salutations  no  less  hearty,  the 
directors  and  officers  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  the  members  of  the 
city  government  of  Baltimore,  the  gentlemen  of  the  press — members  of  that 
other  government  which  governs  us  all — and  those  other  distinguished  citizens, 
whose  concuiTence  in  this  celebration  makes  this  one  of  those  white  days, 
•which  we  anticipate  with  pleasure  and  remember  with  delight. 

Welcome,  gentlemen,  welcome,  one  and  all.  May  you  derive  from  your 
brief  sojourn  within  the  limits  of  Ohio,  a  pleasure  as  real  and  as  great  as  that 
which  your  coming  affords  to  us — To  you,  sir,  {turning  to  General  Cass,)  I  may 
say  something  more  than  welcome  to  Ohio !  I  may  almost  say.  Welcome 
home !  Welcome,  I  may  certainly  say,  to  the  theatre  of  your  earliest  man- 
hood !  Welcome  to  the  community  from  which  you  received  your  first  political 
trust ! — Welcome  to  the  spot  which  witnessed,  near  half  a  century  ago,  the 
commencement  of  that  long  career  of  distinguished  public  service  and  high 
public  trust  through  which  you  have  moved — a  career  long  yet,  Ave  trust,  to 
be  protracted  through  a  vigorous  and  honored  age,  in  the  midst  of  regards  and 
affections  which  may  be  augmented,  perhaps,  by  political  sympathies,  but 
cannot  be  extinguished  by  political  differences.  Here,  sir,  now,  as  then,  rolls 
the  same  beautiful  Ohio ;  there,  with  willing  tribute,  comes  the  same  swift 
IMuskingum  ;  yonder  rise  the  same  verdant  slopes  ;  above  bends  the  same  be- 
nignant sky.  Would  that  I  could  add  that  now,  as  then,  here  and  all  around 
you  stand  the  friends  of  your  youth,  to  welcome  you  back  to  the  spot  conse- 
crated by  youthful  friendships.  A  few,  indeed,  yet  remain  to  greet  you.  The 
rest — but  let  me  not  awaken  vain  regrets.  Even  the  departed  survive  in  their 
spirit  and  greet  you  through  their  works. 

My  gratificatiou  in  welcoming  you  to  Ohio,  gentlemen,  is  doubled  by  the 
circumstance  that,  at  the  same  moment,  I  may  welcome  you  to  the  spot  where 
the  foundation  of  the  State  was  laid — where,  indeed,  the  Anglo-Saxon  settle- 
ment of  the  illimitable  North-west  was  begun. 

Hither  on  the  7tli  day  of  April,  1788,  not  yet  quite  sevent}-  years  ago,  after 
a  winter's  journey  across  the  Alleghanies,  through  deep  snows  and  over  almost 
impassable  ways ;  after  a  voyage  in  boats  constructed  by  themselves,  down 
the  Youghiogheny,  down  the  Monongahela,  down  the  Ohio ;  under  the  lead  of 
Kufus  Putnam,  a  Brigadier-General  of  the  Revolutionary  Army,  who  possessed 
and  fully  deserved  the  entire  confidence  of  Washington — came  the  first  settlers 
of  Ohio — noble  souls  —devoted  patriots — brave  soldiers — who  having  gallantly 
aided  in  achieving  the  independence  of  their  country,  now  consecrated  their 
energies  to  the  establishment  of  new  homes  for  freemen,  and  a  new  empire  of 
freedom  in  the  Western  wilderness. 

Here  they  found,  in  singular  preservation,  those  remarkable  and  extensive 
earth  works,  existing,  though  in  a  somewhat  impaired  condition,  to  this  day, 


174  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

the  purpose  of  whicli.  whether  civil  or  military,  secular  or  ecclesiastical,  baffles 
antiquarian  research,  though  all  agree  that  they  must  have  been  constructed 
in  remote  antiquity  and  hy  a  race  of  men  which  has  long  since  disappeared. 
*  *  *  *  Here,  too,  they  found  the  successors  of  that  race,  the  Red  Men  of  the 
forest,  still  resentful  of  their  defeats  in  Pontiac's  war,  and  jealous  of  the  en- 
croachments of  the  white  man. 

With  characteristic  energy  and  promptitude,  on  the  very  next  day  after 
their  arrival  they  commenced  the  work  of  dividing  the  land,  and  prepared  at 
once  for  cultivation  and  defence.  Hope  painted  for  them  a  bright,  though  dis- 
tant future,  but  not  even  the  magic  pencil  of  hope  could  have  pictured  the 
magnificent  reality.  From  this  germ  in  the  wilderness  has  already  sprung  a 
State  as  rich  in  resources  and  as  powerful  in  arms  as  were  the  whole  united 
colonies  at  the  era  of  the  revolution.  Other  States  have  risen  in  rapid 
succession.  Westward  and  still  westward,  the  star  of  empire  has  taken  its 
way,  carrying,  by  its  mighty  attraction,  Anglo-Saxon  dominion  and  Anglo- 
Saxon  civilization,  in  the  form  of  Republican  Institutions  and  Republican  States 
across  the  Mississippi,  across'  the  prairies,  across  the  mountains,  till  it  pauses 
at  last  at  the  very  gates  of  the  evening,  to  look  down  over  the  Pacific,  now 
vexed  by  the  keels  of  an  unwonted  commerce,  upon  the  latest  accession  to  the 
Republic,  young,  brilliant,  golden-robed  California. 

To  what  spot  then,  in  Ohio,  gentlemen,  could  I  welcome  you — to  what 
spot  in  the  great  central  valley  of  the  Republic  can  you  be  welcomed — more 
fraught  with  historic  interest  or  more  suggestive  of  the  grand,  hoped-for  future 
than  this  ? 

And  what  an  event  it  is,  gentlemen,  which  we  here  unite  in  celebrating ! 
What  thoughts  it,  too,  awakens  of  the  past,  and  what  hopes  for  the  time  to 
come !  Three  distinct  periods  seem  to  mark  the  progress  of  intercommunica- 
tion between  the  eastern  and  western — western  once,  but  western  now  no 
longer — sections  of  our  country.  Our  fathers  were  glad  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  Indian  trails  and  bufi'alo  paths  on  land,  and  of  canoes  and  broadhorns 
upon  the  water.  Eighty-seven  years  ago  a  red  man,  standing  here  on  the 
shores  of  the  Ohio,  might  have  remarked,  floating  downward  with  the  stream, 
a  iTide  canoe  manned  by  two  Indians  and  bearing  three  wliite  men,  of  whom 
one,  in  the  prime  of  noble  manhood,  was  easily  distinguished  from  the  others 
by  his  dignified  bearing,  and  by  his  athletic  proportions.  It  was  Washington, 
who  had  crossed  the  mountains  on  horseback,  by  the  rough  paths  of  the  period, 
and  was  now  on  his  way  to  establish  pre-emption  claims  in  behalf  of  himself 
and  his  fellow-soldiers  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  by  marking  trees  and 
setting  up  monuments  on  the  lauds  south  of  the  Ohio,  just  ceded  by  the  Six 
Nations.  Here,  and  not  very  far  IVom  where  we  now  stand,  he  landed  to  ex- 
change tokens  of  amity,  and  smoke  the  pipe  of  peace  witii  an  Inilian  chief, 
whose  friendship  he  had  gained  seventeen  years  before,  when  he  had  visited 
the  tribe  as  the  youthful  envoy  of  IJinwiddie. 


GOV.  chase's  receptiox  speech  at  marietta.  175 

But  the  day  of  canoes  and  broadhorns,  of  Indian  trails  and  buffalo  paths 
passed  awav,  steamboats  made  their  appearance  on  the  rivers,  caiials  furnislied 
new  channels  of  water  conimuuicatiou,  and  turnpikes  and  niacadumized  roads 
facilitated  intercourse  by  land.  Over  the  Alleghanies  and  westward  as  far  as 
Sprinjz;field,  in  Ohio,  the  national  road  was  built  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
traveller  and  the  emigrant,  and  to  secure  the  means  of  prompt  communication 
in  times  of  peril.  The  traveller  on  this  road  may  still  see,  standing  by  the 
wayside,  not  far  from  the  city  of  Wheeling,  a  simple  monument  which  com- 
meniorites  the  services  of  Henry  Clay,  iu  the  creation  of  this  then  important 
bond  and  ligament  of  union  between  the  Atlantic  States  and  the  interior.  The 
monument  will  crumble,  the  road  itself  may  be  deserted  and  forgotten,  but 
the  name  of  Clay  will  live  while  patriotism  is  honored  and  genius  finds  a 
sshrine  iu  the  hearts  of  men.     (Long  continued  applause.) 

Turnpikes  and  macadamized  roads,  rivers,  and  canals,  still  supply  indis- 
])ensable  facilities  of  intercourse.  But  a  third  period  has  begun. — The  railroad 
anil  the  telegraph  now  assert  their  claims  to  pre-eminence  as  the  most  im- 
portant means  of  raj^id  communication,  and  the  most  beneficial  agencies  of 
progress. 

With  this  new  era  the  great  work,  of  which  we  now  celebrate  the  accom- 
plislinienr,  stands  closely  and  prominently  connected.  While  yet  a  youth,  pursu- 
ing my  professional  studies  iu  the  city  of  Washington,  I  remember  to  have  wit- 
nessed the  celebration  of  the  opening  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad — 
perhaps  to  Ellicotl's  Mills — perhaps,  only,  to  what  is  now  the  Washington  Junc- 
tion. It  was  a  great  event,  and  deserved  to  be  appropriately  celebrated —  it 
announced  the  earnest  beginning  of  a  work,  then  without  a  rival  in  boldness  of 
design  and  grandeur  of  conception.  Tlirough  what  difficulties  it  has  been 
prosecuted — what  marvels  of  engineering  skill  it  has  evoked — how  successfully 
obstacles,  seemingly  insurmountable,  have  been  overcome,  others  may  better 
tell  than  I. 

I  rt^joice  to  see  among  you  to-day  a  friend  of  my  younger  years,  to  whose 
faithful  and  intelligent  acts,  as  President  of  the  Company,  something,  at  least, 
of  its  success  is  due.  I  have  no  heartier  welcome  to  give  to-day  than  that 
which  my  heart  offers,  before  my  tongue  cais  utter  it,  to  Thomas  Swann. 

All  those  who  faithfully  labor  in  the  commencement  of  great  undertakings,- 
seeking  to  realize  in  material  forms  great  ideas,  build  far  more  M'isely  than 
they  know.  The  projectors  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  little  imagined 
how  much  more  vast  than  even  their  own  conception  were  to  be  the  results  of 
the  work  they  undertook.  They  contemplated  a  connection  with  the  Ohio, 
and,  through  the  Ohio  and  its  afliliated  rivers,  with  the  immense  territories 
watered  by  them.  But  they  did  not  dream  that  these  rivers,  themselves,  were 
to  be  half  superseded  by  other  railroads,  continuing  their  own  iron  track  far- 
ther and  farther  towards  the  setting  sun. 

They  did  not  even  contemplate,  I  believe,  the  constmction  of  that  Northt 


1*76  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

western  Virginia  Railroad,  over  which  you  have  just  come  hither.  Still  less 
did  they  anticipate  that  when  that  branch  of  their  own  road  should  he  com- 
pleted to  the  Ohio,  this  Cincinnati  and  Marietta  road  would  be  here  to  receive 
its  passengers  and  freight,  and  convey  them  westward.  He  would  have  been 
counted  insane  who  should  have  j^redicted  it.  Tlie  only  hospitalities  thought 
to  be  due  to  him  who  might  then  have  hoped  to  participate  in  such  a  celebra- 
tion as  this,  would  have  been  the  hospitalities  of  the  Lunatic  Asylum. 

To-day,  gentlemen,  you  will  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing  how  sober  such 
an  anticipation  would  have  been.  To-night  you  will  be  welcomed  at  the 
ancient  metropoUs  of  Ohio.  To-morrow  you  will  be  received  by  the  Queen 
City  of  the  gi-eat  Central  Valley — still  justly  entitled  to  that  proud  distinction, 
though  many  ambitious  aspirants  are  eager  to  pluck  the  crown  from  her 
brows.  There  a  greater  wonder  awaits  yon.  The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rail- 
road, forming  still  another  link  of  the  American  Central  Railway,  stretches  away 
still  westward ;  and  the  iron  horse,  impatient  of  delay,  is  eager  to  bear  you 
on  beyond  the  ancient  limits  of  the  Republic,  where  the  memories  of  the  Cni- 
sades  and  of  French  empire  and  of  French  civilization,  are  perpetuated  by  the 
name  of  St.  Loviis, 

There  you  may  pause  ;  but  the  Railroad,  the  Locomotive,  and  the  Tele- 
gi-aph — iron,  steam,  and  lightning — the  three  mighty  genii  of  modem  civiliza- 
tion— still  press  on,  and,  I  venture  here  to  predict  it,  will  know  no  lasting 
pause  until  the  whole  A'ast  Hue  of  railway  shall  be  complete  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Paciiic — ^from  Baltinrore  to  San  Francisco. 

Gentlemen,  I  must  not  detain  you  by  reflections.  It  were  idle,  indeed,  to 
attempt  to  express  the  feelings  which  these  themes  excite.  God  grant  that 
we  may  have  the  wisdom  to  understand  that  this,  our  wonderful  heritage  of 
liberty,  prosperity,  and  extended  empire,  came  from  Him,  and  can  only  be 
preserved  by  obedience  to  his  laws.  God  grant  that  the  Union  of  the  States, 
wliich  this  great  railroad  brings  into  such  intimate  relations,  and  that  large 
Union  which  embraces  all  the  States  of  the  confederacy,  and  which  forn>s  the 
best  assurance  and  guaranty  of  the  permanence  and  enlargement  of  our 
precious  heritage  of  free  institutions,  may  endure  in  all  its  glorious  strength 
and  beauty,  while  the  mountains  and  the  rivers  traversed  by  the  roads  shall 
stand  or  flow. 

To  tills  beautiful  and  effective  address  of  welcome,  which  was  re- 
ceived ■with  hearty  applause  by  the  multitude,  General  Cass  fittingly 
and  feelingly  replied  as  follows  : — 


SPEECH    OF    GEX.  CASS    AT    THE    MARIETTA    KECEI'TIOX.        177 


I  have  listened  with  deep  interest  to  the  address  made  by  your  Excellency 
on  the  reception  of  the  strangers  who  have  just  landed  on  the  north  bank  of 
the  Ohio.  I  am  one  of  them  now,  though  this  is  not  my  first  visit  to  this  well- 
remenibered  city.  No  one  can  appreciate  better  than  I  do  the  interest  of  these 
passing  scenes.  Within  a  few  feet  of  where  I  now  stand,  I  landed  more  than 
half  a  century  ago,  a  young  and  poor  adventurer,  seeking  that  land  of  promise, 
in  the  then  remote  West,  which  has  proved  to  me  and  to  so  many  others  a 
land  of  performance.  The  circumstances  in  which  I  now  find  myself  awaken 
sensations  more  easily  felt  than  described.  I  left  this  place  a  scholar — I  come 
back  a  teacher.  I  went  forth  to  fight  the  great  battle  of  life,  and  I  return  to- 
wards its  close  filled  with  gratitude  for  the  success  which  has  attended  me. 
The  result  is  a  glorious  illustration  of  the  blessed  equality  of  our  institutions. 
By  the  favor  of  his  countrymen,  the  poor  adventurer  has  been  borne  forward 
to  the  high  places  of  the  land,  and  has  represented  the  Republic  at  the  court  of 
princes.  No  other  nation  under  heaven  offers  such  inducements  to  its  citizens. 
Hold  on,  then,  to  this  government,  acquired  by  the  wisdom  and  valor  of  our 
fathers,  and  which  has  made  us  the  happiest  and  most  prosperous  people  on  the 
face  of  the  globe.     Our  lines,  indeed,  have  been  cast  in  pleasant  places. 

Fifty-seven  years  ago  the  North-western  Territory  of  that  day  contained 
only  30,000  people ;  now  the  States  included  within  its  boundaries  number 
6,000,000.  The  man  yet  lives  who  was  living  when  the  first  tree  fell  before 
the  woodman's  axe,  in  the  vast  western  domain.  And  the  man  now  lives 
who  will  live  to  see  it  contain  100,000,000  of  people.  Since  the  dispersion  of 
the  human  family  upon  the  plains  of  Shinar,  there  has  been  no  such  increase 
in  all  the  elements  of  power  and  prosperity.  And  well  will  it  be  for  us  if  we 
learn  to  appreciate  the  blessings  which  Providence  has  granted  us.  The  State 
of  Ohio  has  kept  full  pace  with  the  progress  of  the  age.  Its  triumphs  over  the 
obstacles  the  early  settlers  encountered,  are  among  the  proudest  monuments 
of  human  industry  and  enterprise.  I  cannot  survey  her  cultivated  fields,  her 
thriving  and  beautiful  cities  and  towns  and  villages,  her  schools,  her  churches, 
her  internal  improvements,  without  recalling  the  dense  forests  which  covered 
its  territory  when  I  first  entered  it.  The  steamboat  and  the  railroad-car  have 
superseded  the  tedious  and  painful  mode  of  conveyance  of  former  days,  and 
journeys  are  now  measured  not  by  distance  but  by  time.  Fifty-one  years 
ago  I  representid  this  County  in  the  legislature  of  the  State.  At  that  session, 
Fulton  and  Livingston  presented  a  petition  asking  for  an  exclusive  right  to 
navigate  the  waters  of  the  State  by  steam,  and  offering  as  a  consideration  to 
employ  boats  which  should  be  propelled  up  the  Ohio  at  the  rate  of  four  miles 
an  hour.  To  us,  who  had  seen  nothing  descend  the  river  but  the  unwieldy 
flat-bottomed  boat,  and  nothing  ascend  it  but  the  heavy  barges,  polled  by 
almost  naked  men,  and  employing  six  months  in  a  trip  from  New  Orleans, 
the  proposition  seemed  so  impracticable  as  to  approach  the  ridiculous,  and  im- 
8* 


178  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

worthy  of  our  consideration,  and  we  wisely  rejected  it.  And  so  you  see,  that 
if  the  result  had  depended  upon  our  action,  the  magnificent  enterprise  of 
steam-navigation  would  not  now  he  startling  us  with  its  grand  achievements. 

I  have  just  passed  over  the  railway  traversing  the  mountains,  dividing  the 
East  from  the  West,  a  work  which  Rome  never  equalled  even  in  her  palmiest 
days,  and  during  the  whole  passage  my  memory  turned  back  to  other  days 
and  scenes.  I  have  traversed  heretofore  the  whole  distance  from  Washington 
to  St.  Louis  hy  this  railroad  route.  I  travelled  on  horseback,  and  it  was  a 
painful  journey  of  many  days.  We  have  found  the  conveyance  now  but  a 
party  of  pleasure,  too  rapid  indeed  for  a  proper  survey  of  the  country. 

The  allusions  of  your  Excellency  to  the  Puritans,  connected  with  the  settle- 
ments of  Marietta,  were  happily  made.  This  was  the  second  step  in  the  march 
of  that  remarkable  people,  whose  character  is  impressed  not  less  upon  the 
opinions  than  upon  the  deeds  of  their  descendants.  This  vast  region,  extend- 
ing to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  is  destined  to  feel  the  same  impression  in  its  future 
settlement  and  progress. 

The  remarks  of  the  distinguished  speaker  elicited  the  deepest  in- 
terest, and  were  very  warmly  received  by  the  great  throng  of  listeners 
Avlio  heard  them. 

lion.  Xathaniel  Cox,  Secretary  of  State  for  tlie  State  of  Maryland, 
in  tlie  absence  of  Governor  Ligon,  next  responded  to  the  remarks  of 
Governor  Chase. 

May  it  please  youk  Excellency  : — 

Being  the  only  functionary  attached  to  the  executive  department  of  the 
government  of  Maryland  present,  to  participate  with  you  in  the  interesting 
ceremonies  of  the  day,  those  of  my  fellow-citizens  now  your  honored  g-uests, 
have  deputed  me  to  return  thanks,  on  their  behalf,  for  the  cordial  greeting 
with  which  they  have  been  this  day  welcomed  to  the  soil  of  your  great  State. 

The  occasion  which  has  brought  us  to  stand  together  to-day  on  the  banks 
of  the  mighty  river  which  rolls  at  our  feet,  that  we  may  mingle  our  rejoicings 
over  the  execution  of  that  work  which  now  unites  these  waters  with  those  of 
the  "  father  of  waters,"  is  one  of  no  ordinary  interest,  and  has  been  most  hap- 
pily availed  of  by  your  Excellency  to  give  utterance  to  some  sentiments  so 
patriotic,  that  tliey  must,  I  am  sure,  have  found  in  every  heart  around  us  a 
ready  and  a  lively  echo. 

We  thank  you  for  the  generous  allusion  you  were  pleased  to  make  to  our 
own  State  of  Maryland,  as  having  i-ignaJized  her  infancy  by  being  the  first  to 
unfurl  the  sacred  standard  and  to  maintain  the  doctrines  of  reliinous  tolera- 
tion, and  in  after  years  made  herself  the  •'  Pioneer"  of  railroad  enterprise  by 
entering  \ipon  the  construction  of  what  is  now  confessedly  the  most  stupendous 
work,  and  among  the  best  managed  roads  of  o;ir  country.  We  appreciate  it  the 


SPEECH    OF    IIOX.  X.  COX    AT    THE    MARIETTA    RECEPTION'.      l79 

more  fully  because  we  feel  it  to  be  no  unmeaning  compliment  to  our  people, 
inasmuch  as  tbey  may  rightfully  claim  that  the  spirited  projectors  of  that 
gigantic  work  which  now  constitutes  so  material  a  link  in  that  great  cliain 
which  to-day  binds  together  in,  I  trust,  indissoluble  tics  of  interest  and  of 
union  those  wide-spreading  regions  of  our  country  it  was  intended  thus  to  bind 
together  and  develope,  are  entitled  to  high  honor  for  the  unfaltering  courage — 
the  unflagging  hope — the  steadiness  of  purpose  and  tlie  indefatigable  energy 
•with  which  it  .was  pursued  until  all  was  happily  rewarded  by  the  glory  of  suc- 
cess achieved.  How  forcibly  such  a  work  evidences  and  illustrates  the  might 
of  human  genius  and  the  power  of  man's  indomitable  will !  The  day  was, 
when,  to  many  minds,  the  project  of  constructing  a  railroad  from  the  city  of 
Baltimore  to  some  point  upon  the  bank  of  this  river  seemed  but  the  suggestion 
of  the  most  reckless  and  inconsiderate  folly.  But,  despite  the  jeering  of  those 
who  thus  co)isidered  it,  the  work  pressed  ou  ;  mountain  after  mountain,  with 
its  frowning  front  and  breast  of  stone,  gorge  after  gorge,  with  its  power  to 
smite  with  terror,  gave  way  before  man's  subduing  skill  and  power,  until  every 
obstacle,  however  formidable,  encountered  and  overcome,  the  great  steam- 
horse  with  his  "  heart  of  fire  and  breath  of  flame,"  mounts  with  iron  tread  his 
patli  to  the  very  summit  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  awakens  the  slumbering  echoes 
of  hill  and  plain  witli  bis  shrill  whistle,  at  once  the  signal  of  his  power  and  the 
psean  of  a  mighty  conquest  in  the  march  of  engineering  science.  Verily, 
"  Peace  has  her  victories  no  less  renowned  than  war." 

The  pleasure  of  descanting,  more  in  detail,  upon  the  history  and  character 
of  this  road,  I  shall  leave  to  another  here,  whose  fonner  connection  therewith 
will  enable  him  to  treat  of  it  more  to  your  gratification,  as  well  as  with  a 
greater  degree  of  justice  to  the  achievement  itself,  and  those  concerned  in  it. 
I  thought  I  might,  without  offence,  exult  for  a  moment  over  it  as  a  work  of 
which  we  are  proud,  and  we  need  not,  I  tbink,  blush  to  acknowledge  it. 

Such  was,  I  believe,  the  commencement  of  railroad  enterprises  in  the  States; 
but  what  mighty  changes  a  few  short  years  have  wrought  in  this  regard.  Now 
such  is  the  extent  of  that  interest,  so  completely  has  it  become  interwoven  with 
all  the  great  interests  of  the  country,  and  such  are  its  effects  upon  the  condi- 
tion of  tlie  people,  that  the  railroad  may  legitimately  claim  to  rank  among  the 
great  humanizing  institutions  of  the  age,  and  to  exercise  a  socializing  and 
moral  power  in  the  land  wiierever  fostered  and  encouraged,  and  that  may  now 
be  said  to  be  eveiy where,  "  where  civilization  has  spread  her  luminous  wing."* 
The  railroad  now  accelerates  her  flight  from  shore  to  shore,  and  is  no  mean 
instrumentality  in  the  work  of  regeneration.  Those  then  who  regard  occa- 
sions like  this  as  the  mere  appointments  or  expedients  of  pleasure's  votaries, 
mistake  much  their  true  character  and  the  good  results  which  follow  them, 
and  which  extend  their  benign  influences  far  beyond  the  fleeting  pleasures  of 
the  present  hour.  Wlio,  tor  instance,  can  trace  the  region  of  country  we  have 
traversed  in  our  journey  hither,  together  with  those  Ave  are  privileged  yet  to 


180  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPKNIXG. 

visit,  and  not  feel  his  "heart  new  opened,"  his  love  of  country  enlarged  and 
strengthened,  by  what  he  beholds  ou  every  hand  ?  Who  can  witness,  without 
deep  emotion  and  unbounded  exultation  and  thankfulness,  the  vast  elements 
of  material  wealth  with  which  God,  iu  his  providence,  has  blessed  our  land  ? 
and  that  heart  among  us  must,  indeed,  be  cold  and  insensible  to  all  high 
patriotic  emotions,  that  can  contamplate  without  a  throb  the  probable  great- 
ness and  glory  of  the  future  of  such  a  land,  shall  wise  counsels  but  be  permitted 
to  prevail,  and  we  but  prove  true  to  her,  to  each  other  and  to  ourselves. 

Besides,  these  occasions  serve  the  further  purpose  of  extending  and  strength- 
ening among  us  the  social  feelings,  and  of  awakening  and  fostering  that  fra- 
ternal spirit  of  brotherhood  which  should  ever  subsist  between  the  citizens  of 
the  different  States  of  the  Union.  The  mountains  are  no  longer  a  barrier  to 
divide  vis  as  in  the  olden  time  ;  steam  has  diminished  the  space  between  us,  as 
it  were  to  a  stride,  and  we  are  frequently  brought  together  in  large  numbers 
at  the  festive  board  ;  we  are  then  enabled  to  look  each  other  in  the  face — to 
shake  each  other  by  the  hand — to  feel  in  the  presence  of  each  other  that  we 
can  claim  to  have  a  common  country  which  we  love — that  we  are  not  aliens 
and  strangers,  but  fellow-citizens  and  brothers.  Thus  as  we  come  to  know 
each  other  better,  so  do  we  appreciate  each  other  the  more  ;  we  are  led  to  ex- 
tend towards  each  other  more  of  the  spirit  of  mutual  forbearance,  and  day  by 
day  grows  stronger  our  love  for  one  another,  and  our  deA'otion  to  the  institu- 
tions of  the  land  and  of  that  happy  Union  which  is  the  glory,  not  of  any  one 
State,  but  of  all. 

But,  sir,  I  must  not  weary  your  patience  and  occupy  too  much  of  the  time 
of  our  friends.  It  was  my  purpose  merely  to  acknowledge  civilities  of  which 
we  have  been  the  recipients,  and  then  to  leave  our  friends  to  employ  such 
time  as  may  be  spared  before  resuming  their  journey  farther  westward,  in  ob- 
serving whatever  objects  of  interest  to  visitors  may  be  in  the  vicinity.  So 
permit  me,  sir,  in  conclusion,  to  proffer  you,  on  the  part  of  the  State  of  Mary- 
land, and  through  you  to  the  people  whose  voice  you  have  just  spoken,  cordial 
and  unfeigned  thanks  for  the  very  generous  welcome  so  kindly  extended  to  us 
this  day. 

IToD.  Fayette  McMulleu,  recently  appointed  Governor  of  Waslilng- 
ton  Territory,  then  delivered  a  speecli,  in  which  he  thanked  Governor 
Chase  for  liis  complimentary  allusions  to  the  State  of  Virginia,  and 
regretted  the  absence  of  Virginia  railroad  officers  and  authorities, 
most  of  Avhoin,  he  said,  in  company  Avith  those  of  Tennessee,  were  to 
meet  in  convention  at  Bristol  the  next  day  to  consider  the  proposition 
of  a  French  capitalist  to  establisli  a  line  of  steamers  between  Havre 
and  the  Capes  of  Virginia. 

To  the  people  of  Ohio  (he  continued)  I  desire  to  convey  sentiments  of  cor- 
dial regard  from   the  mother  State  to  her  second  daughter.     Viro-iiiia  owes  a 


SPEECH    OF    HON.    THOMAS    SWANX,    AT    MARIETTA    RECEPTION.      181 

debt  to  Baltimoi-e  for  tlie  enterprise  which  has  brought  Western  ^^irgiIlla  into 
notice — a  portion  of  tlie  State  I  have  for  the  first  time  passed  over  to-day,  the 
rich  treasures  of  which  have  been  newly  opened,  to  be  hud  in  the  lap  not  only 
of  Baltimore,  but  of  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  Virginia  has  not  had  the 
enterprise  to  commence  and  prosecute  such  a  work  as  we  have  witnessed  today, 
but  it  has  been  boldly  achieved  by  gallant  Maryland.  The  eloquent  manner 
in  which  you,  my  old  friend,  have  presented  the  advantages  of  the  road,  pre- 
cludes the  necessity  of  further  dwelling  on  this  interesting  point.  These  and 
other  such  roads  are  to  unite  all  our  States.  We  must  visit  and  know  each 
other.  The  North  should  visit  the  South,  and  the  South  should  visit  the 
North,  I  give  you  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  in  token  of  the  cordiality  of 
the  friendship  of  Virginia  and  Ohio. 

Noah  L.  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Chillicotbe,  the  laborious  and  intelligent 
President  of  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad,  llien  presented  to 
Governor  Chase  the  Hon.  Thomas  Swann,  Mayor  of  tlie  city  of  Balti- 
more, as  the  distinguished  person  tlirougli  wliose  enliglitened  energy 
and  great  financial  ability  the  giant  labor  of  cutting  through  tlie  moun- 
tain divisions  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  had  been  accom- 
plished. 

Mr.  Swann,  then  addressing  the  Governor,  spoke  as  follows : — 

He  commenced  by  saying,  that  the  allusion  which  had  been  made  to  his 
humble  name,  by  the  Governor,  was  quite  unexpected  to  him.  He  thanked 
that  distinguished  gentleman — he  thanked  the  representative  of  tlie  Govern- 
ment (General  Cass)  who  had  just  spoken — he  thanked  the  gentleman  from 
the  neighlioring  State  of  Virginia  (Mr.  McMullen)  for  the  high  encomiums 
which  had  been  passed  upon  the  public  works  of  the  State  of  Maryland.  He 
was  here  surrounded  by  the  corporate  authorities  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  to 
participate  in  this  great  jubilee.  They  had  traversed  a  distance  of  nearly 
four  hundred  miles,  to  be  present  on  an  occasion  of  interest  not  only  to'the 
State  of  Ohio,  but  the  whole  West.  Mr.  Swann  said  that  he  could  never 
despair  of  the  Union  when  he  witnessed  the  results  of  the  great  combination 
of  roads  which  they  were  here  this  day  to  celebrate — a  combination  which 
could  never  be  severed  without  doing  violence  to  all  our  most  cherished  pros- 
pects. They  had  passed  over  the  soil  of  two  States,  and  they  were  now  within 
the  limits  of  a  third.  Such  facilities  of  intercourse  could  not  be  otherwise 
than  beneficial.  They  promoted  social  and  commercial  interchange,  and 
brought  men  together,  to  feel  and  estimate  the  value  of  our  glorious  insti- 
tutions. 

Ten  years  ago  he  had  connected  himself  with  the  public  works  of  the  State 
of  Maryland. '  The  policy  upon  which  these  works  had  been  conducted,  was 
not  unknown  to  (he  people  of  Ohio.     He  had  looked  with   a  steady  eye  to 


182  GREAT    OHIO     AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILKOAD    OPEN'ING. 

that  beautiful  Queen  City  of  which  the  Governor  had  spoken — he  had  looked 
to  what  he  believed  to  be  the  commercial  centre  of  the  great  West.  It  is 
known,  that  when  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  was  located,  the  people 
of  Maryland  were  compelled  to  take  what  they  could  get — not  what  they 
wanted.  An  air-line,  drawn  from  St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati  to  the  nearest 
point  on  the  seaboard,  shows  that  the  location  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  rail- 
road, at  Wheeling,  was  not  its  legitimate  and  proper  location.  This  led  to 
the  origin  and  completion  of  the  North-western  Virginia  railroad,  which  would 
become,  he  doubted  not,  an  important  link  in  the  Grand  Tnink  line  between 
the  East  and  the  West,  The  city  of  Baltimore  had  never  relaxed  her  efforts 
to  place  herself  in  her  true  position.  Mr.  Swann  said,  that  in  the  midst  of  iill 
the  difficulties  and  obstacles  by  which  her  pathway  had  been  obstructed,  the 
city  of  Baltimore  had  kept  an  unfaltering  eye  upon  Cincinnati,  St.  Louis, 
and  the  distant  shores  of  the  Pacific.  Baltimore  was  the  Eastern  terminus  of 
this  great  American  highway.  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis  were  both  shining 
landmarks  upon  its  westward  extension.  This  was  the  fixed  policy  upon  which 
he  had  been  acting.  He  was  not  surprised  that  it  had  insured  him  and  the 
city  authorities  so  cordial  a  recaption  here  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 

It  was  with  some  pride  that  he  spoke  of  the  position  of  the  little  State  of 
Maryland  in  connection  with  these  great  railroad  movements.  The  gentleman 
from  his  own  State,  (Mr.  Cox,)  who  had  just  spoken,  and  to  whom  he  was  in- 
debted for  his  kind  allusion,  had  done  her  no  more  than  justice.  The  dis- 
tinguished Secretary  of  State  (General  Cass)  had  represented  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  railroad  as  an  enterprise,  rivalling  the  achievements  of  the  Koman 
empire  in  its  palmiest  days.  It  was  a  stupendous  work.  It  had  been  under- 
taken and  completed  under  every  disadvantage.  During  his  connection  with 
the  two  works  which  formed  part  of  the  grand  combination  which  had  sug- 
gested this  meeting,  he  had  disbursed  more  than  ,$13,000,000  of  capital. 
It  was  a  great  effort  for  one  of  the  smallest  States  in  this  Union,  but  it  showed 
the  enterprise  of  her  people,  and  a  steady  perseverance  in  the  discharge  of  that 
part  of  the  duty  which  devolved  upon  lier. 

He  told  the  people  of  Cincinnati  years  ago,  before  the  North-western  Vir- 
ginia Railroad  was  commenced,  that  her  first  dependence  was  upon  the  Great 
Southern  line,  which  was  now  about  to  be  opened.  He  had  seen  no  reason  to 
change  this  view.  Her  interest  was  identical  with  that  of  the  city  of  Balti- 
more. Nature  had  indicated  the  connection,  and  those  whom  God  had  joined 
together,  could  not  be  intcrlered  with  by  artificial  impediments.  He  was  per- 
fectly willing  to  leave  to  the  future  the  tiiitli  of  his  predictions. 

Mr.  Swann  thaid<ed  the  Governor  again  for  his  cordial  reception.  He  as- 
sured him  that  the  city  of  Baltimore  would  feel  it  her  pride,  at  all  times,  to 
cultivate  the  most  friendly  relations,  both  social  and  commercial,  with  the 
people  of  Ohio.  He  believed  that  this  was  only  an  earnest  of  a  still  grander 
celebration  that  awaited  them  in  the  future — he  believed  that  the  important 


MAIUETTA MUSKINGUM    BKlDGt: — START    FOR    CUILI.ICOTIIL'.       183 

combination  of  roaJs  over  wliich  they  b;iJ  passed,  would  stretch  onward  and 
onward,  until  they  rea^.-hed  the  waters  ot'  the  Pacific,  and  he  hoped,  at  no 
distant  day,  to  unite  with  the  Governor  in  signalizing  an  effort  which  no  people 
but  our  own  could  have  conceived  and  looked  forward  to,  without  distrust,  in 
the  probability  of  ultimate  success. 

Mr.  Swann's  speech  was  -warmly  received,  and  listened  to  with 
evident  interest,  but  owing  to  llie  great  pressure  of  tlie  crowd  upon' 
the  banks  of  the  river  where  the  reporter  stood,  it  is  impossible  to  do 
more  than  give  an  imperfect  outline  of  his  remarks,  Avliich  are  now, 
for  the  first  time,  even  approximately  published. 

The  general  reception-ceremonies  were  now  ended,  and  taking  ad- 
vantage of  a  spare  half  hour,  many  of  tlie  guests  proceeded  to  view  the 
celebrated  Indian  inound  in  the  near  vicinity,  which  rises  from  the 
midst  of  the  cemetery,  a  distance  of  forty  feet,  and  is  surrounded  by  a 
Avide  ditch  or  moat  fifty  feet  from  its  base.  Here  were  civilization 
and  barbarism  poetically  illustrated  in  the  monuments  to  tlie  dead  of 
dilFereut  eras  and  races.  The  mound  marking  the  final  resting-place 
of  extinct  aboriginal  tribes,  surrounded  by  the  marbled  tombs  of 
modern  civilization!  How  significant  tlie  symbols  Avhich  thus  unite 
the  Present  with  the  Past ! 

At  two  o'clock  we  started  for  oui-  train  again,  or  rather  for  the 
steam  ferry,  by  which  the  Muskingum  is  crossed  at  present  to  Har- 
mar,  on  its  right  bank,  the  piers  of  a  magnificent  bridge,  over  which 
the  track  is  designed  to  be  laid,  not  liaving  been  quite  completed  yet. 
The  bridge  is  to  be  694  feet  long,  with  a  "  draw  "  for  steamers,  and 
resting  on  piers  of  massive  masonry.  The  spans  are  each  ]  84  feet ; 
height  of  truss,  23  feet;  height  of  the  bridge  above  low  water,  50  feet ; 
extreme  width,  54  feet;  to  be  roofed  with  tin.  Total  cost,  one  hun- 
dred tliousand  dollars;  built  under  the  plan  and  superintendence  of 
Col.  Moore,  by  Wiiarton  Lyman. 

Arrived  at  the  cars,  which,  until  tlie  bridge  is  completed,  start 
from  Harmar,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Muskingum, —  we  found  that 
our  company  had  added  still  further  to  its  numbers  during  the  brief 
halt.  Among  the  new  comers  who  joined  us  iiere  were  Governor 
Chase  and  suite,  a  delegation  of  gentlemen  from  Chillicothe,  where  it 
Avas  arranged  that  we  should  spend  the  night,  and  the  following  repre- 
sentatives of  the  press,  viz.  : 

Marietta  Republican,  A.  \V.  McCormick;  Intelligencer,  Dr.  Andrews. 
Chillicothe  Gazette,  A  P.  Miller.  Cincinnati  Commercial,  Victor  Smith, 
Socket  Reynolds ;   Enquirer,  George  C.  Davies ;   Times,  E.  B.  Reed ;  Ladies' 


184  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

Repository,  W.  T.  ('o<;geslia]l ;  Gazette,  J.  D.  Caldwell.  St.  Louis  Repub- 
lican, George  J.  Guilford  Cohmibus,  Oliio,  State  Journal,  Colonel  William 
Schouler ;  Gazette,  John  Greiner.  D.  W.  Halsey,  Hamilton  Intelligencer  ; 
J.  L.  Boardman,  Hillsborough  News ;  W.  C.  Hood,  Portsmouth  Spirit  of  the 
Times  ;  Samuel  P.  Drake,  Portsmouth  Republican. 

We  left  the  station  at  lialf-past  2  o'clock,  p.  51.  A  run  of  four 
miles  brought  us  to  Scott's  landing,  on  tlie  Ohio,  the  point  at  wliich  the 
connection  between  tlie" railroads  on  either  side  the  river  (the  North- 
west Virginia  arm  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  and  the  Marietta  and 
Cincinnati)  will  be  made  until  the  track  can  be  completed  to  make  a 
proper  connection  at  Belpre,  opposite  Farkersburg.  When  this  is  ac- 
complislied,  wliich  it  should  be  by  an  early  day,  the  connection  will  be 
direct  by  ferryboat,  occupying  a  few  minutes  only  in  the  transit, 
instead  of  from  one  to  two  hours,  as  now. 

A  few  miles  further  west  we  reached  the  point  at  which  our  road 
is  compelled  to  pass  the  hills  of  the  river  border  in  order  to  strike 
more  into  the  interior.  The  passage  is  designed  to  be  made  by  a  tun- 
nel, not  yet  completed.  At  the  time  of  our  excursion  the  cars  passed 
over  the  hill  top  by  use  of  what  are  technically  known  as  "  Y's."  This 
arrangement  consists  of  short  tracks,  elevated  on  trestle  work  and 
shelves  cut  in  the  hill-side,  running  a  zigzag  course  on  steep  grades. 
Imagine  an  immense  letter  ''  W  "  described  on  the  hill-side,  each  limb 
to  the  point  of  junction  with  its  neighbor  limb,  an  hundred  yards 
long,  its  angles  running  out  to  considerable  length,  and  terminating 
very  acutely,  each  succeeding' limb  rising  higher  and  higher  than  the 
one  nest  below  it,  and  the  reader  lias  something  of  an  idea  of  this  sim- 
ple and  ingenious  method  of  overcoming  great  elevations  witiiin  a 
short  space.  Beginning  at  the  lower  limb  of  tlie  great  liieroglyphic,  the 
train  runs  along  it  on  a  grade  of  one  Imndred  and  sixty  feet  to  the 
mile,  until  it  reaches  the  point  of  the  first  angle.  The  engine  being 
now  reversed,  the  train  runs  backward  and  is  switched  oft'  on  the 
second  limb,  to  be  again  switched  off  on  the  third  and  fourth,  each 
time  rising  higlier  and  higher  until  at  last  the  summit  is  reached.  This 
extraordinary  mode  of  passing  great  elevations  by  railroads,  was  first 
instituted,  we  believe,  by  Mr.  Latrobe,  in  the  crossing  of  the  Board 
Tree  Tunnel-hill  on  the  Baltimore  and  Oliio  Koad,  in  1853. 

In  order  to  accomiilish  this  ascent  more  readily,  our  train  was 
divided  into  five  parts,  each  drawn  by  an  independent  locomotive,  but 
all  running  near  together.  The  scene  as  we  passed  over  the  "  Y's  "  was 
exceedingly  picturesque,  all  five  of  tlie  detachments  occupying  differ- 
ent sections  of  the  erratic  path  at  the  same  time,  and  each  liaviug  the 


TRIP    FROM    MAUIETTA    TO    CHILLICOTHE.  185 

Others  all  in  full  view,  either  above  or  below.  The  cars  were  gaily 
decorated  with  flags  and  streamers,  handkerchiefs  floated  in  snowy 
clouds  from  the  windows,  and  cheer  upon  cheer  of  salutation  went  up 
from  the  more  enthusiastic  of  the  company  as  we  thus  passed  each  other 
in  grand  review.  In  a  few  minutes  the  trains  formed  in  continuous  line 
again,  and  we  bowled  along  the  level  Avoodway  once  more  until,  a  few 
miles  further  west,  we  struck  the  ascent  over  Pilcher's  tunnel,  with  a 
grade  of  about  two  hundred  feet  to  the  mile. 

Eighteen  miles  from  Marietta  we  came  upon  the  Little  Hocking 
Valley,  crossing  the  river  bed  on  a  gigantic  trestle  work,  one  hundred 
and  Jive  feet  hi  height  and  eighteen  hundred  and  ten  feet  long.  It  was 
impossible  to  pass  so  remarkable  a  work  without  examining  it,  which 
the  company  alighted  to  do,  after  the  train  had  crossed.  Timid  travel- 
lers will  be  glad  to  learn,  that  solid,  massive  and  safe  as  the  trestling 
is,  it  is  to  be  immediately  replaced  by  permanent  bridges  and  embank- 
ments. The  same  improvement  is  to  be  made  with  all  the  trestle  work 
upon  the  line  as  rapidly  as  it  can  be  accomplished.  After  we  passed 
the  Little  Hocking,  the  country  began  to  assume  a  less  rugged  aspect, 
and  the  road,  escaping  from  the  region  of  hills,  tunnels  and  trestles, 
passed  over  gently  undulating  slopes,  and  tlirough  valleys  remarkable 
for  their  fertility  and  quiet  loveliness.  Near  Athens,  however,  there 
was  one  more  viaduct,  1,100  feet  long,  and  seventy-six  high. 

AVe  reached  Athens  at  six  o'clock  p.  m.  This  is  a  fine  old  town, 
advantageously  located  on  a  high  hill,  overlooking  a  long  stretch  of 
beautifully  rolling  country  and  many  a  charming  valley.  Here  is 
located  one  of  the  most  flourishing  universities  in  the  State.  The 
townspeojjle  turned  out  in  great  numbers  to  salute  us  as  we  passed. 

Leaving  this  place  we  soon  found  ourselves  in  the  midst  of  a  rich 
mineral  region,  only  just  beginning  to  be  developed.  Passing  through 
and  over  immense  deposits  of  coal  and'iron,  we  reached  Zaleski,  fifty- 
eight  miles  from  Marietta.  A  few  years  since  a  practical  geologist  was 
struck  by  the  fact  that  the  iron  rails  fureliased  in  England  for  this 
road  were  laid  on  enibanhnents  of  iron  ore!  The  result  of  investigation 
into  the  facts  Is,  that  a  company  of  English  capitalists,  intelligently 
rejjresented  here  by  Mr.  Kobson,  has  purchased  seven  thousand  acres 
of  these  coal  and  iron  lands  in  Vinton  county,  and  are  laying  the  foun- 
dations of  a  great  manufacturing  city  in  the  centre  of  a  mining  and 
agricultural  region.  Here  they  are  erecting  furnaces,  foundries  and 
iocomotive  manufactories  on  a  scale  and  on  the  basis  of  economics 
not  seen  hitherto  in  this  country.  Here,  too,  are  to  be  located,  the 
very  extensive  machine  and  repair  shops  of  the  railway  company, 
making  a  front  of  one  thousand  feet  upon  the  road. 


18G  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

About  thirty  miles  from  Chillicotbe  is  the  "Cincinnati  Furnace," 
and  "Ely's  Mines."  From  that  point  the  iron  development  is  going 
on  rapidly.  Twelve  miles  beyond  Athens  is  the  "  Big  Lead  "  Furnace. 
South  of  Hamilton  are  several  which  connect  with  this  road  by  the 
Scioto  and  Hocking  Valley  road.  On  the  Ohio  side  of  the  river,  and 
within  tlie  reach  of  the  Marietta  line,  are  not  less  than  forty  furnaces 
and  forges.  During  the  past  season  six  new  furnaces  have  gone  into 
blast,  most  of  which  are  within  reach  of  this  road.  We  should  not 
omit  to  state,  that  between  the  Scioto  and  the  Muskingum,  also,  there 
are  exhaustless  supplies  of  the  most  useful  mineral  productions.  Coal, 
iron,  salt,  tire  clay,  cannel  coal — all  abound.  Of  course  it  is  a  most 
admirable  locality  for  manufactures. 

Rattling  on  through  a  number  of  settlements,  over  the  finest  farms, 
cultivated  appareutl}'  in  the  most  skilful  manner,  and  crossing  the 
Scioto  by  a  permanent  bridge  twelve  hundred  feet  long,  we  arrived  at 
Cliillicothe,  the  ancient  capital  of  the  State,  and  still  one  of  its  most 
important  cities,  where  it  Avas  arranged  that  we  should  pass  the  night. 
AVhen  we  arrived  the  city  was  already  full  of  excursionists — guests 
from  along  the  line  of  the  road,  from  Cincinnati  and  elsewhere,  as 
well  as  many  lookers-on — to  greet  the  guests  from  tie  East  or  share  in 
the  Chillicothe  Celebration — who  had  arrived  by  preceding  trains. 
The  hotel  accommodations  were  limited,  and  not  less  than  a  thousand 
persons,  probably,  were  already  quartered  at  private  dwellings. 

Nevertheless,  scarcely  had  our  trains  come  to  a  stand-still  in  the 
depot,  than  the  cars  were  invaded  by  numbers  of  the  wealthy  citizens 
of  the  place,  who  gathered  us  up  in  parties  from  six  to  twenty,  placed 
us  in  carriages  and  carried  us  to  their  private  mansions,  where  we 
were  treated  to  such  exhibitions  of  generous  hospitality  as  are  rarely 
equalled,  but  cannot  be  surpassed.  In  this  way,  in  less  time  than  we 
occupy  in  narrating  the  fact,  every  guest  was  provided  foi-,  and  each 
speedily  found  himself  "  at  home."  We  came  as  strangers,  but  met  as 
friends.  An  amiable  strife  was  evident  among  our  entertainers,  to 
see  who  could  secure  the  greatest  number  at  his  board,  and  excel  the 
others  in  provision  for  their  comfort  and  enjoyment.  Hardly  less  than 
two  thousand  persons  were  cared  for  by  i)rivate  hospitality  on  the 
niglit  in  question,  yet  so  universally  did  the  Chillicothians  contribute 
to  and  i)articipate  in  the  liospitable  demonstration,  that  no  one  was 
crowded  and  everybody  seemed  delighted  with  his  experience.  Cer- 
tainly, v/e  never  expect  to  witness  a  more  hearty  and  whole-souled 


THE    UNBOUNDED    HOSPITALITY    OF    CHILLICOTHE. 


187 


specimen  of  genuine  hospitality.  Among  the  families  whose  comfort- 
able dwellings  were  thrown  open  on  this  occasion,  Ave  have  obtained 
the  names  of  the  following,  which  we  believe  to  be  nearly  com- 
plete : — 


Edw.vkd  Ada.ms, 
J.  It.  Allstox, 
Kay.moxd  Ai.lston, 
il.  K.  Baktlett, 
Mr.  Bliss, 
John  H.  BENXt-rrr, 
Thomas  S.  Bkxnett, 
P'kaxcis  Camit.kll, 

S.  1).  CAMl'BliLL, 

JoSKi'ii  Cook, 
Samuel  Cook, 

S.  S.  CortKE, 

JoHx  D.  Caiui, 
Is.vAc  Corey. 
Mrs.  E.  Carson, 
"Wm.  Carsox, 
James  Claiek, 
A.  Carlisle, 
Kelsox  Carlisle, 
W.  H.  Douglass, 
James  Douglas, 
D.  J.  Duxlap, 
Mrs.  Douglas, 
Mrs.  N.  Dun, 
K.  W.  Dexmxg, 
Dr.  Dexig, 
Alex.  Ewixg,  Sr., 
James  Ewixg, 
S.  W.  Ely, 
Lewis  Fullertox, 
Dr.  L  W.  FouLKE, 
Dr.  Wsi.  Fullertox, 
'Wm.  B.  Fuaxklix, 

TlIOS.  GORMLEY, 


J.  L.  Green, 

G.   P.  HoLCOMB, 

Tiios.  Huist, 

N.  HiLLHOUSE, 

Jonx  Hough, 
A.  Haut.max, 

D.  K.  JoxEs, 
Mrs.  Jos.  JoxEs, 

A.  Ives, 

J.  JOUDAX, 

B.  p.  KlXGSBURY, 

J.  H.  Keith, 
R.  H.  Laxsixg, 
H.  S.  Lewis, 
Matthias  Lewis, 
Presley  Morris, 
Wm.  T.  McClixtick, 
JoHX  Madeira, 
Jacob  May, 
J.iMES  McAi)o\vs, 
James  McLaxoburgh, 
Mrs.  McKee, 
Dr.  McNally, 
J.  S.  McGixxis, 
Dr.  J.  Moore, 
H.  McLaxdburgh, 
Thomas  ]\Iiller, 
Charles  J.  Miller, 
Henry  M.a.ssie, 
J.VMEs  McClixtick, 
Hon.  S.  McCoy, 
Wji.  McKell, 
A.  Spexcer  Nye, 

E.  P.  Pr.vit, 


A.  Pearson, 
0.  T.  Reeves, 
Jos.  Roads, 
John  Reed, 
H.  X.  Reed, 
j.  ^\\  robixson, 
Jas.  Ryax, 
Dr.  Reh winkle, 
Wm.  Ross, 

Dr.  S-VXDFOED, 

E.  P.  Sakkord, 
R.  R.  Sey.mour, 

]).  A.   SclIUTTE, 

A,  D.  Sproat, 
J.  Stevexson, 
J.\s.  Stewart, 
Jas.  B.  Scott, 
AV.  H.  Safford, 
Dr.  C.  A.  TitiMBLE, 

J.VilES  G    T-\YLOU, 

Rev.  J.  Trimble, 
J.  L.  Taylor, 
J.  J.  Y.\x>ieter, 
Mrs.  C.  Wolf, 
Dr.  Williams, 
Dr.  W.  Waddle, 
Henry  W.iDE, 
W.  D.  Wessox, 

C.  A.  WOODBRIDGE, 

Wsi.  Welsh, 
Dr.  Wills, 
Nath.vxiel  Wilson, 
Dr.  A.  A\'atts, 
NoAu  L.  Wilson, 


and  pei'haps  others,  whose  names  were  not  returned  to  the  Com- 
mittee. 

General  Cass,  M.  Sartiges  and  suite,  Mayor  Swann,  of  Baltimore, 
John  It.  Thompson,  of  Virginia,  and  several  other  gentlemen,  were 
liandsomely  entertained  at  the  private  mansion  of  Noah  L.  Wilson, 
Esq.,  President  of  the  Company. 

Nowhere  upon  its  line  is  the  Cincinnati  and  Marietta  Railroad 
more  thoroughly  appreciated  than  in  ChiUicothe,  where  reside  several 
gentlemen  whose  capital  and  energy  Jiave  contributed  not  a  little  to- 
wards its  successful  prosecution.     W^e  found  the  streets  alive  on  our 


188  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

arrival,  and  noisy  with  the  sliouts  of  a  niultitude.  Flags  were  dis- 
played from  the  public  houses,  bonfires  glowed  upon  the  surrounding 
hills  and  lighted  up  the  city  itself,  and  bauds  of  music  paraded  the 
streets.  Our  own  "  Blues  Band  "  formed  at  the  head  of  a  procession  on 
arrival,  and  marched  through  the  principal  streets  to  Masonic  IIall,where 
a  bountiful  supper  was  set  for  all  Avho  chose  to  unite  in  its  discussion. 

In  order  to  exhibit  the  scale  upon  which  tliis  spirited  community 
entered  upon  their  share  of  the  general  celebration,  we  present  the  full 
progi'amuie  of  their  excellent  arrangements  for  the  occasion. 


MARIETTA  AND  CINCINNATI  RAILROAD  CELEBRATION, 

AT     CHILLICOTHE. 

Order  of  the  Day. 
THE  MAYOR  AND  CITY  COUNCIL, 

The  German  Wasliington  Ouards,  the  respective  Fire  Companies  of  the 
City,  invited  Guests  of  the  City  and  couutry,  the  Citizens  and  the  Members  of 
the  various  Committees  are  respectfully  requested  to  meet  at  the  Masonic  Hall 

On  Tuesday,  the  2d  June,  at  Five  o'clock  p.  m., 

where,  vmder  the  directions  of  the  Marshals  and  their  assistants,  they  will 
form  into  a  line  in  the  following  order : 

1.  The  German  Washington  6.  Invited  Guests, 

Guards,  7.  Fire  Companies, 

2.  Mayor  of  the  City,  8.  Reception  Committee, 

3.  CoL'xciL  OF  the  City,  9.  Members  of  the  various  Com- 

4.  Executive  Committee,  mittees, 

5.  Reception  Commiti'ee, 

and  proceed  from  the  Masonic  Hall  to  the  corner  of  Second  and  Paint  Street, 
from  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  Company 
depot,  where  tliey  will  meet  the  guests  from  the  East  and  West,  who  are  ex- 
pected to  arrive  at  the  depot  at  6.15  p.  m. 

On  the  amval  of  the  trains  the  mayor  of  the  city  will  receive  the  guests, 
after  which  a  procession  will  be  re-formed  in  the  same  manner  as  above  direct- 
ed, and  proceed  in  a  direct  line  to  the  Masonic  Hall,  where  the  guests  will  be 
provided  with  their  places  of  sojourn. 

At  8  o'clock  p.  jr.,  a  second  procession  of  all  parties  named  above  will  be 
formed  in  same  order  at  ]\Iasonic  Hall  and  march  directly  to  the  depot  to  re- 
ceive the  guests  Irom  tlie  eastward  of  the  Ohio  River,  who  are  expected  to 
arrive  between  8  and  i)  o  clock  p.  m. 

The  approach  of  the  train  with  the  eastern  guests  will  be  announced  to  the 
citizens  by  the  firing  of  a  red  Bengal  light  from  the  top  of  BeUevue  Hill,  at  the 
head  of  Main  Street. 

In  order  to  prevent  confusion,  citizens  are  requested  not  to  invite  guests 
from  abroad  to  their  houses,  e.-jcept  through  the  committee  of  their  ward. 


CELEBRATION    AT    CniLUCOTHE.  189 

It  IS  proposed  to  form  a  prtieession  at  seven  o'clock  on  Wednesday  morninw 
under  the  direction  of  tlie  marsli:  Is,  in  front  of  the  Court  House,  to  proceed 
from  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  top  of  Bellevue  Hill,  to  show  our  guests  the 
beautiful  panoramic  views  surrounding  our  city. 

Executive  Committee. 

Edward  Adams  (Mayor),  John  Madeira, 

Dr.  C.  A.  Trimble,  D.  A.  Sciiutte, 

M.  R.  Bartlett,  Dr.  Jasjes  Silvev, 

K.  n.  Seymour,  E.  P.  Stafford, 

S.  AV.  Ely,  R.  W.  Denning. 

Reception  Committee. 

D.  A.  A.  ScHUTTE,  Dr.  C.  A.  Trimble, 

W.  T.  McClinticIc,  M.  R.  Bartlett, 

Dr.  James  Silvey,  F.  P.  Stafford, 

Hon.  S.  McCoy,  William  Carson, 

Raymond  Allston,  W.  H.  Douglas,  jun., 

Dr.  Sanford,  J.  R.  Allston, 
S.  S.  Cook,  Dr.  L.  W.  Foulke. 

Finance  Committee. 
B.  Kingsbury,  Major  Wm.  Welsh,  James  M.  Landburg. 

Masonic  Hall  Committee. 

Colonel  John  Madeira,  B.  T.  Kingsbury, 

Raymond  Allston,  I\Iajor  Wm.  Welsh. 

Committee  on  Carriages. 
Jos.  Stewart,  Woodson  CjVrlisle. 

Committee  on  Baggage. 
A.  Hartman. 

Distributing  Guests  Committees. 

^Will   distribute    the    guests  in    houses 
1st  WARD. — W.  W.  Madeira  -;  fronting  on  Fifth  Street,  between  Canal 

(and  Paint  Streets,  also  Mulberry  Street. 

rWill  distribute  the  guests  in  houses  on 
W.  H.  Douglas  -  Front,  between  Canal  and  Paint  Streets ; 

{also  Douglas  and  Caldwell  Streets. 

I  Will  distribute  the  guests  in  houses  on 
Dr.  Sanford  -J  Main,      between     Canal     and      Paint 

(^Streets. 

r,  A  (Will  distribute  the  guests  in  houses  east 

Raymond  Allston      j^^.  ^j^^  ^^^^^  ^^^  ^^l^^  ^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^ 


190 


GREAT    OHIO    AXD    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 


2d  WARD.— S.  S.  Cook, 

M.  R.  Bartlett, 
Dr.  L.  W.  FouLKE, 
Thomas  Miller, 
Hon.  S.  S.  McCoy, 
Wm.  Carsox, 


3d  WARD.- 


-Dr.  C.  A.  Tremble, 

Dr.  A.    SCHCTTE, 

W.  J.  McClestick, 

Dr.  James  Siltey, 
J.  R.  Alston, 
David  Smart, 
Wm.  Wyeth, 


4th  WARD.— A.  Pe.vrson 


James  Ryan 


Will  distribute  the  guests  in  houses  on 
l  Paint,  between  Second  and  Fifth  Streets  ; 
|-also  Fifth,  between  Walnut  and  Paint 
I  Streets ;  also  Main  and  Fourth,  between 

Walnut  and  Paint  Streets. 

f  Will  distribute  the  guests  in  houses  on 
J  Second,  between  Paint  and  High  Streets ; 
]  also  on  Walnut,  between  Fifth  Street 
l^and  the  Ohio  canal. 

J- Will  distribute  the  guests  in  houses  on 
(  High,  Water,  Chestnut,  and  Vine. 


f  Will  distribute  the  guests  in  houses  on 
I  Second,  between  Canal  and  Paint  Sts. ; 
I  also  Water  between  Canal  and  Water 

(^  Streets. 

f  Will  distribute  the  guests  in  houses  east 
-;  of  the  canal,  between  Main  Street  and 
(_the  Ohio  Canal. 


r.  w.  denning.  > 
a.  pearson,     ; 


-  3fa7'shah. 


Assistant  Marshals. 


W.  H.  DocGLAS,  Jun., 
Dr.  Rehwinkle, 
M.  Lewis, 
George  Martin, 


George  Rouze, 
W.  Carlist,e, 
T.  P.    Hurst, 
Capt.  Rosenfelt. 


A  train  which  arrived  at  Chlllicothe,  from  Cincinnati,  tliree  hours 
before  us,  brought  in  several  hundred  guests  from  the  "  Queen  Citj," 
■who  had  come  to  escort  us  westward.  Among  them  were  the  City 
Council  of  Cincinnati,  several  Members  of  the  Legislature,  and  further 
deputations  from  the  Cincinnati  Press.  They  were  formally  received 
on  behalf  of  Chillicothe  by  Mayor  Adams  in  the  following  speech  : 

The  people  of  Chillicothe  command  me  to  bid  you  a  sincere  welcome,  and 
to  tender  yon  their  hospit.ility. 

To  you  all  from  the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Ohio,  at  the  pioneer  city  of  our 
beloved  State,  or  by  her  waters,  in  the  young  metropolis  of  the  West,  or  along 
the  path  of  this  new  commercial  highway,  I  offer  the  cordial  salutation  of  the 
citizens  of  Chillicothe. 

We  are  not  insensible  to  the  value  of  the  social,  pohtical,  and  commercial 
results  of  the  splendid  achievement  signalized  by  this  celebration,  and  we  join 
in  this  midway  meeting  with  warm  and  full  sympathy.  To  express  this  ap- 
preciation, and  to  manifest  our  respect  for  you,  gentlemen,  we  make  you  our 
"welcome  guests  on  this  occasion. 

I  assure  you  that  every  demand  upon  our  care  and  attention  to  make  you 


KECEPTION    OF    CINCINNATI    GUESTS    AT    CHILLICOXnE.         191 

comfortable  and  happy,  will  be  met  with  alacrity  and  pleasure ;  and  I  know 
that  if  your  short  stay  in  Chillieothe  shall  brino;  the  same  gratification  to 
yourselves  us  to  us,  your  visit  will  be  most  agreeable. 

Benjamin  Egglestoii,  Esq.,  of  the  Cincinnati  City  Council,  respond- 
ed as  follows : 

Citizens  of  CniLLicoTiiE: — "You  have  long  been  known  for  your  liber- 
alitj'  and  hospitality,  and  we  feel  that  your  welcome  is  not  from  your  lips 
alone.  We  are  all  residents  in  the  great  and  growing  West ;  have  an  interest 
in  her  prosperity,  and  are  proud  of  her  rapid  progress.  We  hold  it  meet  that 
■vvc,  of  the  Queen  City  of  the  West,  should,  on  this  occasion,  exchange  con- 
gratulations with  the  citizens  of  the  ancient  metropolis.  Here  it  was  that  the 
earliest  seeds  of  Ohio's  greatness  were  planted  :  here  it  was  that  the  Constitution 
was  formed,  whose  excellence,  no  doubt,  has  so  much  contributed  to  our  State'.s 
success.  We  look  upon  Chillieothe  with  the  eye  of  kindness,  reverence,  and 
love  :  we  feel,  when  here,  that  we  are  upon  sacred  ground,  where  the  early  pi- 
oneers of  ci\'ilization  sleep,  but  are  not  forgotten.  Over  their  graves  grateful 
memory  will  ever  watch,  and  the  torches  of  patriotism  be  kept  burning  as  at 
hallowed  shrines. 

Chillieothe  would  alfl-ays  be  an  attractive  object,  not  only  to  every  Ohioan, 
but  to  every  "Western  man,  even  if  nature  had  not  so  nobly  adorned  her,  mak- 
ing her  lovely  to  the  natural  eye,  apart  from  all  association. 

When  wo  look  upon  yoijr  verdant  and  luxurious  hills,  and  see  the  beautiful 
Scioto  winding  its  silvery  course  through  your  fertile  valleys,  when  we  view 
your  broad  and  regiilar  streets,  your  elegant  mansions,  the  abodes  of  gener- 
osity, refinement,  and  taste  ;  when  our  eye  falls  upon  your  beautiful  daughters, 
the  worthy  offspring  of  noble  mothers,  and  your  gallant  sons,  descended  from 
patriotic  sires,  and  hear  your  welcome  pronounced  from  a  thousand  lips,  and 
your  acclamations  echoing  back  from  your  glorious  hills,  we  have  no  words  to 
express  our  gratitude.  We  feel  we  have  all  a  Western  heart,  and  that  our 
glory  and  progress  cause  in  us  all  a  pride  to  which  our  fathers  and  ourselves 
have  purchased  the  right,  by  earnestness,  patriotism,  labor,  and  exhaustless 
enterprise. 

Our  horde  of  eastern  guests  entering  the  town  at  so  late  an  liour, 
and  the  excitement  raging  very  high,  a  formal  reception-ceremony 
was,  by  common  consent,  dispensed  with,  and  an  indiscriminate  but 
whole-souled  welcome  fitly  substituted.  By  midnight  silence  reigned 
in  Cliillicothe,  and  all  the  tired  sojourners  slumbered. 

On  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  Wednesday,  June  3d,  the  strangers 
were  up  betimes,  thronging  the  streets  for  a  brief  glance  at  a  place 
destined  to  be  so  pleasantly  treasured  in  their  memories.  Numerous 
Tehicles  were  placed  at  their  disposal,  in  which  to  visit  points  of  in- 
tereit,  of  which  there  are  several.  Nothing  interested  us  more  than  a 
view  from  what  is  known  as  the  Mountain  House,  on  the  Belleview 
estate,  some  distance  back  of  the  main  portion  of  the  toAvn,  wliich 
stands  on  an  elevation  full  three  hundred  feet  high.  From  here  we 
obtained  a  bird's-eye  view  of  the  neat  and  beautiful  city  beloAv,  and  a 
charming  one  of  the  level  and  fertile  Scioto  valley  for  a  distance  of 


192  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

twenty  or  thirty  miles,  dotted  with  farm-houses,  and  presenting  a  per- 
fect picture  of  agricultural  prosperity  and  wealth.  To  the  right  and 
left  this  view  was  bounded  by  a  range  of  hills  with  some  mountains  of 
respectable  elevation  in  the  background.  Mound  Mountain,  which 
first  attracts  attention,  derives  its  name  from  a  remarkable  Indian 
mound  erected  upon  its  summit;  a  marvellous  relic  of  some  race 
which  lives  no  more,  even  in  tradition.  Logan's  Mountain,  fifteen 
miles  distant,  also  is  visible,  presenting  a  beautiful  and  graceful  outline 
drawn  out  against  the  deep  blue  sky  of  the  early  morn.  It  was  here 
that  Lord  Dinwiddle,  guarded  by  a  hardy  band  of  ante-revolution  colo- 
nists, held  the  celebrated  council  Avith  Logan,  made  memorable  by  the 
extraordinary  eloquence  and  pathos  of  the  speech  which  Jefferson  lias 
put  into  the  mouth  of  the  chief,  in  denanciation  of  the  Avrongs  suf- 
fered by  liimself  and  his  race  at  the  hands  of  the  white  man. 


m 


Til  E 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF    1857 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

THE  TRIP  FKOM  CtJILLICOTHE-RECEPTION  AT  CINCINNATE^THE 
CINCINNATI  CELEBRATION. 

At  9  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  Wednesday,  June  3d,  we  set  off  again  for 
Cincinnati,  bidding  a  regretful  adieu  to  our  new  found  friends,  who 
accompanied  us  in  great  numbers  to  the  station,  and  waved  us  on  onr 
way  with  many  kind  wislies  for  our  welfare.  The  excursion  party 
liad  increased  by  this  time  to  some  twenty-five  hundred  persons,  fill- 
ing several  successive  trains.  Leaving  the  valley  of  the  Scioto,  we 
traversed  a  level  and  fertile  country,  abounding  especially  in  superb 
grazing  lands,  We  also  passed  through  a  considerable  extent  of  forest, 
in  which  the  graceful  elm  ^nd  tlie  useful  sugar-maple  abound.  The 
trip  from  Chillicothe  to  tiie  Ohio  river  developed  nothing  of  special 
interest,  if  we  except  the  curiosity  manifested  at  every  stopping- 
place  to  see  General  Cass,  and  the  enthusiasm  with  which  the  crowd 
rushed  to  greet  him  whenever  his  precise  locality  was  discovered. 

The  road  from  Chillicothe  to  the  Little  Miami  Line,  at  Morrow, 
Iiaving  had  time  to  settle,  was  in  excellent  condition.  Certainly  it 
appeared  to  have  been  constructed  in  the  most  substantial  manner,  and 
tlie  cars  ran  'over  it  with  great  smoothness  and  perfect  ease.  The 
eastern  division  of  the  road  was  entirely  new  yet,  and  not  thoroughly 
ballasted  ;  but  we  saw  no  reason  why  it  should  not  be  made  as  perfect, 
in  due  time,  as  any  other,  with  the  necessary  expenditure  contem- 
plated by  the  Company.  Judging  by  the  fertility  of  the  soil  through 
which  the  entire  line  passes;  the  diversity,  quantity,  and  quality  of 
the  mineral  resources  of  the  route,  and  the  enterprising  energy  of  the 
people  upon  whom  their  future  development  depends, — there  can  be 
no   doubt   that  the  local  business  of  this   road,  independent   of  it 9 


194  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

through  travel  and  traffic,  will  be  immense.  Already  we  found  all 
along  the  eastern  end  of  the  line,  (juantities  of  produce  piled  up  for 
transportation,  almost  forced  upon  the  Company,  although  we  believe 
they  had  not  yet  announced  their  readiness  to  receive  any  freight. 

The  first  of  the  excursion  trains  reached  the  Little  Miami  Eailroad 
Station  on  Front  street,  Cincinnati,  at  fifteen  minutes  after  1  o'clock, 
P.  M.  The  other  trains  were  close  at  hand,  and  arrived  at  their  des- 
tination a  few  minutes  later.  At  the  depot  we  found  the  Mayor  and 
city  authorities  ready  to  receive  us,  and  the  Guthrie  Greys  and  the 
Fulton  Continentals,  two  fine  military  corps,  in  waiting  to  escort  the 
company  to  the  Burnet  House.  General  Cass,  Gov,  Chase,  M.  Sar- 
tiges.  Mayor  Swann,  and  other  dignitaries  and  guests,  were  formally 
received  upon  the  platform  by  Mayor  Thomas,  who  briefly  expressed 
the  pleasure  it  gave  him  to  tender  the  hospitalities  of  the  city. 

President  Warren,  of  the  City  Council,  on  behalf  of  that  body,  also 
cordially  welcomed  tlie  strangers,  and  Mr.  Charles  Gould,  on  behalf  of 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  Company,  likewise  briefly  but 
frankly  welcomed  tiiem  to  the  West,  and  to  the  hospitalities  of  his 
Company. 

The  Hon.  Thomas  Swann,  of  Baltimore,  responded  as  follows: — 

Gexti.emkn  : — In  behalf  of  the  .nuthorities  of  the  City  of  Baltimore,  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Kailrcad  Company,  and  the  distinguished  strangers  by 
wliom  I  am  surrounded,  and  for  whom  I  am  authorized  to  speak,  I  am  de- 
puted to  thank  you  for  the  kind  invitation  extended  to  us,  to  participate  in 
the  rejoicings  of  this  celebration,  and  the  privilege  we  enjoy  in  meeting  you  to- 
day. The  scene  here  presented  is  one  of  no  common  attraction.  There  is  no 
event,  gentlemen,  connected  with  the  progress  of  internal  improvements  in  this 
country,  which  has  been  fraught  with  more  interest  to  tlie  whole  Union  than 
the  connection,  now  for  the  first  time  practically  announced,  between  the  At- 
lantic seabord  and  the  remote  West.  We  are  here  to  congratulate  3'ou  on  the 
prospect  which  it  discloses.  Cincinnati  has  just  reason  to  be  proud  of  the 
position  wbich  she  occupies.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  within  the  range  of 
public  enterprises  in  this  or  any  other  country,  a  more  convincing  illustration 
of  tbe  genius  and  public  spirit  of  a  great  people.  A  few  years  ago  Cincinnati 
was  tbe  centre  of  an  unexplored  wilderness.  Now  she  is  a  powerful  and  grow- 
ing city,  stretching  ber  arms  to  tbe  far-off  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  on  tbe  one 
hand,  and  the  Mississippi  on  tbe  otber. 

Gentlemen,  it  would  be  out  of  place  to  detain  you  in  the  midst  of  such  a 
scene  as  this.  It  is  no  time  for  speculation.  In  the  name  of  the  large  con- 
course of  strangers  here  present,  in  the  name  of  the  public  authorities  whom  I 
represent,  I  tender  to  you  most  cordially  our  best  wisbes  for  your  success 


APPEARANCE  OF  THE  PORTICO  OF 

THE  BURNET  HOUSE,  AT  CINCINNATI, 

On  the  .')])  OF  .Ir.N'E,  IS57 


A  VIEW  ON  THE  OHIO  cV  MISSISSIPPI  RAILROAD, 

BEING    THE 

TOMB  OF  GEN.  VVM.  H.  HARRISON, 

At  North  Bend,  16  Miles  West  of  Cincinnati. 


ARRIVAL    AT    CINCINNATI, — RECEl'TION, SPEECHES.  195 

in  the  development  of  this  great  career  on  whicli  you  have  so  auspiciously 
entered,  and  a  speedy  realization  of  your  most  sanguine  hopes.  I  assure  you 
of  the  pride  with  which,  as  members  of  a  com non  country,  we  sympathize  in 
the  glory  of  this  miglity  achievement.  I  congratulate  you  on  what  has  been 
accomplished,  and  upon  those  still  more  glorious  results  which  are  certain  to 
be  proclaimed  when,  at  no  distant  day,  the  voice  of  the  steam  whistle,  sound- 
ing along  the  line  of  this  gi'eat  national  highway,  shall  be  lost  amidst  the 
distant  roar  of  the  Pacific.     [Great  applause.] 

Mr.  Swann  then  introduced  Gen.  Cass  and  M.  Sartiges  to  tlie  au- 
thorities and  citizens,  who,  after  vociferously  cheering  tliem,  opened 
a  "vvay  for  tlie  guests  to  the  carriages  in  waiting  to  convey  them  to 
their  quarters.  The  crowd  of  Cincinnatians,  in  and  about  tlie  station, 
was  immense,  but  under  the  regulations  of  a  strong  police  force,  pro- 
vided by  ST.  W.  Thomas,  Esq.,  the  merchant  Mayor  of  the  city,  excel- 
lent order  was  maintained,  and  tlie  guests  readily  passed  through  the 
tlu'ong. 

Upon  arrival  at  the  Burnet  House,  the  Tliird  street  front  of  the 
hotel  was  found  quite  blockaded  by  a  dense  mass  of  people,  Avho  called 
loudly  for  a  speech  from  Gen.  Cass.  He  soon  appeared  upon  the  bal- 
cony in  charge  of  Gov.  Chase,  who  introduced  him  to  the  citizens  in  a 
most  complimentary  manner  as  one  of  the  old  pioneers  identified  with 
the  State  of  Ohio  and  the  great  West,  who  had  served  liis  country  in 
the  field  and  abroad  with  dignity  and  patriotism,  and  Avho  was  now 
filling  with  ability  and  the  confidence  of  his  countrymen,  tlie  distin- 
guished office  of  Secretary  of  St:ite. 

General  Cass  said,  that  the  heat  and  dust  and  confusion  of  a  railroad  car 
were  bad  preparations  for  a  speech,  aud  he  felt  himself  unequal  to  a  formal 
address.  But  he  could  not  avoid  expressing  his  gratification  in  revisitino- 
under  imposing  circumstances,  scenes  once  well  known  to  him  in  the  infancy 
of  the  settlement  of  the  country,  and  when  he,  who  should  have  looked  for- 
ward to  the  ease  and  speed  of  a  railroad  car,  would  have  been  considered  the 
victim  of  a  morbid  imagination.  Formerly — General  Cass  proceeded  to  say 
— when  I  visited  this  place,  I  knew  every  body ;  now,  on  revisiting  it,  I  know 
nobody.  Faces  once  so  familiar  to  me  are  gone,  and  among  the  throno-ino- 
thousands  that  crowd  the  streets,  there  is  hardly  one  I  recognize.  A  chano-e 
has  taken  place,  which  finds  no  prototype  in  actual  life  elsewhere,  scarcely, 
indeed,  in  the  tales  of  Eastern  imagination. 

I  have  traversed  this  Western  region  when  it  was  a  wilderness — an  almost 
unbroken  forest  to  the  Pacific  Ocean — a  forest  inhabited  only  by  the  Indian, 
and  by  the  animals,  his  co-tenants,  which  God  gave  to  him  for  his  support. 
Where  I  then  followed  the  war-path,  I  now  pass  on  the  railroad.     The  silence 


19G  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPM    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

of  nature  has  been  disturbed  by  the  busy  hum  of  human  iudustry,  and  by  the 
Church-going  bell,  where  formerly  it  was  broken  only  by  the  war-song  and 
the  drum.  I  have  visited  the  highly  civilized  portions  of  the  Old  World,  and 
I  have  returned  a  better  citizen  and  a  wiser  man.  There  is  not  on  this  earth, 
from  the  rising  to  the  setting  sun,  a  more  prosperous  country,  a  better  or  freer 
Government,  a  happier  people.  You,  my  fellow-citizens  of  the  West,  hold 
the  destinies  of  this  magnificent  Republic  in  your  hands.  Say  to  the  North 
or  South — say  to  any  quarter,  whence  you  hear  the  threat  of  disunion — Peace, 
be  still.  We  have  the  power  to  preserve  this  precious  work  of  our  fathers, 
and  we  will  preserve  it.  The  Hebrews  of  old  had  their  pillar  of  cloud  by  day, 
and  of  fire  by  night,  to  guide  them  through  the  desert  to  the  promised  laud. 
And  since  the  memorable  day  of  our  exodus  from  the  land  of  bondage,  since 
the  fourth  of  July,  1776,  we  have  had  our  guiding  by  day  and  by  night,  which 
has  led  us  through  many  trials  and  dangers,  till  there  is  now  no  one  to  injure 
us  but  ourselves,  and  nothing  to  fear  but  the  just  judgments  of  God.  Pro- 
nounce then  with  one  voice — AA'ithered  be  the  hand  that  is  stretched  out  to 
touch  the  Ark  of  the  Union.     This  mighty  West  wiU  defend  it  now  and  for  ever. 

The  General,  immediately  after  tlie  address,  was  called  upon  by  a 
large  number  of  liis  personal  friends,  and  others  who  desired  to  pay 
liim  the  re^-pect  due  to  so  eminent  a  citizen.  xVmong  tliose  present 
we  noticed,  in  addition  to  Governor  Chase,  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  of 
Illinois,  Governor  Willard,  of  Indiana,  and  many  distinguished  citizens 
of  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  Indiana. 

At  a  general  meeting  of  tlie  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  convened  at  the 
New  Court  House,  by  call  of  the  Hon.  Jolin  M.  "Wimer,  the  Mayor,  a 
large  and  influential  General  Committee  of  Arrangements  for  the  cele- 
bration was  selected.  This  body  appointed  Messrs.  George  R.  Taylor, 
(President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,)  Charles  W.  Anderson  and  John 
C.  Vogel,  a  Special  Committee  to  proceed  to  Cincinnati,  and  tender  in 
the  name,  and  on  behalf  of  the  peo|)leof  St.  Louis,  a  cordial  invitation 
to  the  Corporate  Authorities,  Committees  of  Arrangement,  the  press 
and  others  of  their  sister  city,  to  visit  them,  and  become  their  guests 
on  the  fifth  and  sixth  of  June,  as  particii)ants  in  their  proposed  cele- 
bration. Tlie  following  is  a  copy  of  the  formal  circular  issued  by  the 
St.  Louis  Authorities  to  the  individuals  invited  from  Cincinnati. 

Mayor's  Office,  Saint  I^uis.  May  30th,  18.57. 
The  City  Council  of  the  City  of  St.  Loui.s  and  the  Committee  of  AiTanc-e- 
ments  have,  l>y  resolution,  instructed  me  to  invite  you  to  become  the  guests' of 
the  city  upon  "the  occasion  of  th.c  opening  of  the  Oliio  and  Mississippi  Railroad, 
on  the  fifth  day  of  June  next. 

It  aflords  me  pleasure  to  comply  with  the  resolution,  and  I  trust  that  you 
will  find  it  convenient  to  be  present  on  the  occasion. 

I  am,  sir,  with  great  respect,  yours,  &k., 

To  J.\(1.   Af.   WiMF.K,  Jfdi/tu: 


BECEPTION    AT    CINCIXNATI,    OF    GUESTS    FROM    ST.  LOUIS.      197 

Upon  tlie  arrival  in  Cincinnati  of  the  St.  Lonis  Special  Committee 
on  tlie  2(1  ofJnne, — in  advance  of  the  Cincinnati  Celebration, — they 
were  met  at  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  Station,  by  a  Committee 
of  the  Cincinnati  Councils,  and  conducted  to  their  choice  quarters  at 
the  Burnet  House.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d,  the  Committee  met  the 
officers  of  the  Cincinnati  Councils  and  Citizens'  Committees  of  Arrange- 
ment at  the  Hall  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  through  their  ex- 
cellent Ciiairman,  George  1\.  Taylor,  formally  presented  the  invitation 
with  which  they  were  charged.  Mr.  Taylor's  brief,  but  cordial  and 
becoming  remarks  were  well  received,  and  as  handsomely  and  frankly 
responded  to  by  Judge  "Warren  on  behalf  of  the  Cincinnatians.  The 
St.  Louis  Committee  afterward  extended  special  invitations  to  the 
Editors  and  other  public  "Representative  men"  of  the  Queen  city. 

WJiilc  the  distinguished  guests  from  the  East  by  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  route  were  being  welcomed  at  the  Little  Miami  Road  Station, 
on  the  eastern  borders  of  Cincinnati,  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  trains 
arrived  at  their  terminus  on  the  western  border  of  the  place,  filled 
with  a  numerous  delegation  from  St.  Louis,  Vincennes,  &c.,  who  had 
been  invited  by  the  city,  or  by  the  officers  of  the  new  road,  to  share 
in  the  Cincinnati  Celebration,  and  to  escort  to  St.  Louis  the  guests 
from  Cincinnati  and  the  East.  The  Western  visitors  were  escorted 
to  the  head-quarters  at  the  Burnet  House,  which  they  reached  while 
General  Cass  was  speaking  to  the  multitude  already  assembled  there. 

At  the  conclusion  of  General  Cass's  speech, — ah-eady  reported, — 
Thomas  H.  AYesner,  of  the  City  Council  of  Cincinnati,  formally  ad- 
dressed the  St.  Louis  guests,  and,  in  spirited  and  appropriate  remarks, 
tendered  iheni  a  cordial  welcome  to  the  Queen  City,  offering  them  the 
amplest  hospitalities  that  the  acknowledged  liberality  and  public  spirit 
of  its  people  could  afford. 

To  this  frank  and  thorough  greeting,  George  R.  Taylor,  Chairman 
of  the  St.  Louis  Coiiunittee,  first  responded,  acknowledging  and  accept- 
ing the  proffered  civilities  on  behalf  of  the  numerous  delegation  from 
liis  home.  The  address  of  Mr.  Taylor  was  worthy  of  him,  and  as  he 
had  been  in  Cincinnati  in  advance  of  the  St.  Louis  Council,  and  had 
partaken  of  the  kindness  and  hospitality  of  many  of  the  people  there, 
he  evidently  felt  in  the  humor  for  "  a  good  talk." 

Mr.  Taylor  made  an  earnest  and  cordial  invitation  to  those  around  him  to 
come  to  St.  Louis.  He  pleasantly  alluded  to  a  pungent  paragraph  in  one  of 
the  leading  Morning  papers  of  that  day,  reflecting  upon  St.  Louis  and  the  en- 
tertainments to  be  given  there  on  the  .5lii : — He  said  that  he  regretted  the  pub- 
lication, but  believed  from  what  many  of  the  people  of  Cincinnati  had  old  him, 
that  it  met  with  no  response  on  their  part — indeed  he  had  just   learned  that 


198  GKEAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

the  amende  honorable  was  designed  in  the  next  publication,  und  tliis  he  was 
sure  was  satisfactory  to  the  delegation  then  present,  and  whose  spokesman  he 
Avas.  Mr.  T.  said,  that  he  believed  he  knew  the  people  of  St.  Louis — that  in 
extending  the  invitation  to  the  corporate  autboi-ities  and  citizens  of  Cincinnati, 
and  which  he  had  the  honor  of  delivering,  they  were  sincere  and  cordial,  and 
hoped  that  the  acceptance  would  be  in  a  like  spirit.  He  said,  that  he  would 
promise  nothing  for  St.  Louis,  but  he  bid  them  come,  and  be  the  guests — and 
partake  of  the  hospitalities  of  the  "Mound  City" — whose  base  was  rock-bound 
and  washed  by  the  waters  of  the  Father  of  floods,  and  then  he  for  himself  and 
her  citizens  would  leave  them  to  say,  if,  when  she  was  weighed  in  the  balance, 
she  was  found  wanting.  Mr.  T.  alluded  to  the  great  iron  artery  connecting 
now,  ibr  the  first  time,  the  beautiful  city  of  Cincinnati  with  his  home,  and  felt 
that  mutual  benefit  would  result  from  its  completion.  After  speaking  of  the 
many  evidences  of  taste,  luxury  and  enterprise,  as  well  as  the  generous  hospital- 
ity of  Cincinnati  already  shown  to  the  delegation  he  represented,  he  concluded 
with  a  renewed  and  earnest  appeal  to  her  citizens  to  come  and  partake  of  the 
hospitalities  of  St.  Louis,  and  join  in  the  final  celebration  of  the  opening  of 
the  great  national  highway,  connecting  the  two  cities. 

Louis  B.  PiU-sons,  Directof  and  the  Financial  Ootninissioiier  of 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Road,  tlieu  addressed  the  guests  from  the 
West,  in  substance  as  follows  : 

Gentlemex  :  Our  friends  from  St.  Louis,  and  the  West :  it  is  with  no 
common  emotions  of  pride  and  pleasure  that,  on  behalf  of  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi Railroad  Company,  I  greet  you  on  this  occasion.  Associated  as  my  feel- 
ings are  with  the  great  and  glorious  West,  I  am  proud,  after  so  many  years  of 
unyielding  effort  and  toil,  in  which  St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati  have  shoulder  to 
shoulder  sustained  each  other,  and  pressed  forward  their  great  enterprise,  that 
to-day  we  are  able  to  proclaim  to  the  East  and  the  world,  the  completion  of 
our  important  work. 

I  rejoice  on  this  occasion  to  see  so  many  here,  who  have  come  from  the 
land  toward  the  setting  sun  to  join  hands  of  friendly  regard  with  thousands  of 
our  countrymen  from  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  and  mingle  in  pleasant  in- 
tercourse with  our  friends  from  all  parts  of  this  great  Confederacy.  On  this 
occasion,  thank  God,  we  know  no  State  lines — no  sectional  divisions — North, 
South,  East,  and  West  are  all  here  to-day  rejoicing  together,  and  binding 
stronger  the  bonds  of  this  glorious  Union. 

As  a  St.  Louisian  myself,  and  proud  of  our  city,  her  present  greatness  and 
her  glorious  future,  and  laelieving  that,  centrally  situated  as  she  is,  geographi- 
cally, from  her  heart  no  blood  shall  flow  that  is  not  true  to  our  common  country. 
I  am  thrice  glad  to  see  your  familiar  faces  and  welcome  you  among  us.  As 
a  resident  for  the  past  year  of  this  (^neen  City  of  the  AVest,  having  enjoyed  its 
generous  hospitalities  and  tested  the  kind  feelings  and  warm  hearts  of  its  citi- 
zens, I  am  sure  you  will  find  a  cordial  welcome  to  their  beautiful  city  and  vine- 
clad  hills,  and  trust  when  the  festivities  of  the  occasion  shall  have  closed,  you 
will  feel,  as  I  do,  that  the  interests  and  the  hearts  of  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis  are 
bound  together  by  stronger  ties  than  iron  bands.  15ut,  gentlemen,  I  will  not 
detain  you,  knowing  as  I  do  there  is  so  much  before  you  to  see  and  enjoy  in 
£0  brief  a  time.     Again  I  welcome  you. 

Of  course  every  hotel  in  Cincinnati  was  overflowing,  for  it  was 
estimated  that  not  less  than  twenty  thousand  strangers,  guests  and 


C'lNOINNAI'I     CKLKUKATION, HOSriTALlTY    OF    THE    CITIZENS,      199 


lookers-on,  liad  invaded  it.  Those  who  had  not  been  wise  enough  to 
pre-engajje  tlieir  rooms  were  not  long  in  finding  that  liotel  accommo- 
dation was  scarce  as  money  during  a  Ban]<  panic.  A  sub-committee, 
under  General  Paul  Anderson,  from  the  Citizens'  General  Committee 
of  Arrangements,  liaving  tlieir  quarters  in  Vine  street,  opposite  the 
Burnet  House,  liowever,  at  once  took  the  strangers  in  cliarge,  and  in 
an  inconceivably  short  space  of  time  liad  them  all  comfortably  billeted 
upon  the  citizens,  who,  as  in  Chillicothe,  had  thrown  open  their  doors 
by  multitudes  for  the  reception  and  entertainment  of  the  city's  guests. 
Those  who  came  to  Cincinnati  merel}'  as  lookers-on,  found  the  greatest 
difhculty  in  getting  accommodated,  but  we  believe  that  eterrj  invited 
guest  was  fully  ])rovided  for.  It  is  unnecessary  to  saj'  more  than  that 
every  thing  which  could  possibly  add  to  the  general  comfort  was  gen- 
erously furnished,  if  we  may  believe  the  universal  testimony  of  those 
wlio  accepted  the  elegant  hospitality  so  freely  offered.  Conspicuous 
among  the  private  entertainments  provided,  were  those  at  the  dwell- 
ings of  the  following  gentlemen,  all  of  whom — with,  perhaps,  others 
whose  names  we  have  been  unable  to  procure — most  creditably  re-- 
ceived  numerous  detachments  of  the  visitors: 


George  Graham. 
James  C.  Hall. 
^YILLIAM  Glenn. 
Judge  Stoker. 
Thomas  G.  Owouxe. 
David  Gibsox. 
Larz  Andeksox. 
R.  M.  W.  Tayloe. 
Robert  Hosea. 
E.  S.  Haines. 
Nicholas  Longwokth. 
George  Shoenberger. 
H.  W  Dehhy. 
J.  F.  Desilver. 
K.  B.  TowNSExn. 
John  D.  Jones. 

J.  J.   SlO(  t'MB. 

"William  Stephenson. 
WiLLiAji  Perry. 


William  Proctor. 
Sajiuel  Davis,  Jr. 
J.  F.  Racine. 
Dr.  B.  P^haeman. 
John  F.  Dair. 
C.  Smith. 
S.  Straight. 
George  C.  Miller. 
Thos.  J.  Gallegheu. 
John  Gdyer. 
F.  Goole. 
A.  Cutter. 
M.  Stadler. 

GHARLbS  FOSDICK. 

J.  Rawson. 
W.  H.  Domisick. 
R.  C.  Brasher. 
Seth  Evans. 


Smith  Ford, 
N.  Harris. 
D.  Eggleston. 
B.  Eggleston. 
S.  Dreyfous. 
Thos.  H.  Weasner. 
H.  Martin. 
William  Goodman- 
T.  S.  Goodman. 
R.  M.  Corwine. 
Ira  Atiiearn. 
John  Reeves. 
George  Carlisle. 

T.  McBlIRNIE. 

John  Coleman. 
R.  W.  Lee. 
Trcxton  Swift. 
Charles  Skkgeant. 


But  we  have  said  nothing  of  the  appearance  of  the  city.  The  day 
of  our  arrival,  Wednesday,  3d  of  June,  was  a  universal  holiday,  on 
which  business  of  all  kinds  was  suspended,  and  every  body  gave  him- 
self up  to  sight-seeing  and  jollification.  In  the  morning,  before  we 
arrived,  the  Steam  Fire  Department  had  a  grand  parade.  The  city 
was  gayly  decked  with  flags,  banners,  mottoes,  and  other  decorations, 


200  GREAT    OH[0    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

■which  met  tlie  eye  at  every  beiul,  Ptretclied  across  the  principal  streets. 
Festoons  of  evergreens,  wreaths  of  flowers,  and  quaint  devices,  wrought 
profusely  in  the  gorgeous  colors  of  the  Ohio  flora,  all  contributed  to 
the  silent  evidences  of  a  "  Queen's"  rejoicing  at  the  completion  of  a 
work  which  gives  new  importance  and  increased  wealth  to  her  empire. 
Among  the  mottoes  displayed  was  one  on  Main  street,  just  below 
Fourth  street,  by  Tyler,  Davidson  &  Co.,  the  extensive  hardware 
house : 


■X-i-vflftif'.i-X-i" 


(•^"••M^^&-M!^-&"v«'??r^"!"-r»!?i-?>!5»-t«r"'M'?^!^> 


^  THE  IRON  TRACK  IS  THE  ONLY  TRUE  BOND  OF  UNION—   ^ 
a?  ^ 

j  THE   RAILROAD   STORE.  -^ 

The  tall  and  magnificent  structure  of  Moore,  "Wilstach,  Keys,  and 
Overend  was  elaborately  decorated.  From  that  to  the  building  oppo- 
site, was  stretched  a  banner  bearing  upon  it  : 

%.     BALTIMORE,    CINCINNATI,  AND    ST.  LOUIS.     ^ 

The  store  of  Sharpless  and  Bosley,  on  the  same  block,  was  trimmed 
richly,  as  was  also  that  of  D.  "W.  Fairchild,  adjoining.  On  this  last 
building  was  the  following: 

3     A  LOCOMOTIVE  IS  THE  ONLY  GOOD  MOTIVE      ^ 

1  FOR  I, 

a|  RIDING   A  MAN   ON   A   RAIL.  ss 

The  Gazette  office,  at  Fourth  and  Vine  streets,  and  the  Commercial^ 
at  Sycamore  and  Third,  had  flags  suspended  from  every  AvindoAv. 

The  Times  building,  on  Third  street,  was  elaborately  decorated. 
A  fine  cluster  of  flags  and  garlands  adorned  the  top  of  the  building, 
and  beneath  this  was  an  "  Illustration"  particularly  appropriate  to  the 
occasion.  A  huge  locomotive  was  represented  whizzing  over  a  track 
in  the  western  Avilds,  in  hot  pursuit  of  an  Indian  mounted  on  liis  pony, 
looking  as  though  he  tliought  the  Evil  Spirit  had  made  his  apitearance 
sure  enough.  A  herd  of  buflaloes  Avere  also  endeavoring  to  escape 
from  the  iron  monster,  but  one  of  them  having  been  struck  by  the 


THE    CINCINNATI    CELEBRATION, THE    STREET    DECORATIONS.    201 

cow-catcher,  was  throwing  liis  heels  over  liis  head.     Ahove  was  the 
motto, 

«l  CINCINNATI  SENDS  GREETING  EAST  AND  WEST.  ^ 

Below  this  was  a  graceful  canopy  formed  of  national  flags.  Be- 
neath the  folds  was  disclosed  a  bust  portrait  of  Washington,  with  ap- 
propriate surroundings,  and  beneath,  the  motto, 

5;  LIGHTNING  LINE   THROUGH— IN  DAYLIGHT.  $ 

Below  this  still  was  a  painting  34  feet  long  and  12  feet  high.  One 
half  represented  the  AVest  in  1807.  It  was  a  pioneer  scene,  with  a  log 
cabin  and  a  clearing  in  the  front  ground,  on  the  banlvs  of  a  river, 
winding  far  away  in  the  distance.  A  pioneer  was  represented  felling 
a  tree  near  the  cabin,  and  a  hunter  just  returning  from  pursuit  of  game, 
being  welcomed  b}'  his  family.  The  other  half  represented  the  West 
in  1857.  There  was  a  view  of  a  large  city,  not  unlike  Cincinnati,  in 
the  distance,  and  a  railroad  train  approaching  it  by  a  suspension  bridge 
across  tlie  Ohio.  The  lower  stories  of  tlie  building  were  set  olf  with 
tri-colored  drapery,  and  a  banner  containing  the  following,  the  names 
of  the  cities  being  within  united  links,  and  all  Avorked  in  evergreen  : 

^        ST.  LOUIS,  CINCINNATI,  BALTIMORE,  ALL  ABOARD!        p 

A  neat  device  was  exhibited  by  Jolni  Ilise,  in  front  of  his  trunk 
manufactory,  on  Lower  Broadway.  A  locomotive  had  been  manu- 
factured out  of  a  large  leather  trunk,  upon  which  were  a  smoke  stack 
and  bell,  the  latter  being  constantly  rung.  Following  this  unique  lo- 
comotive was  a  train  of  cars,  all  manufactured  out  of  leather  trunks 
and  properly  labelled.  Beneath  the  whole  was  the  following  inscrip- 
tion : 

%  THE  GREAT  TRUNK  RAILWAY,         % 

We  have  thus  alluded  to  only  a  few  of  tlie  hundreds  of  buildings 
which  honored  the  occasion  by  putting  on  a  special  holiday  attire. 
8* 


202  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

The  numerous  steamboats  tliat  lined  the  levee  on  Front  street,  were 
also  gayly  decked  ofi'  with  all  their  colors,  and  added  to  the  life  and 
imposing  effects  of  the  daj'. 

It  Avas  not  expected  that  Cincinnati  would  make  much  formal 
public  display  on  this  occasion,  for  the  want  of  time  on  the  part  of  the 
guests,  the  chief  and  final  ctremonies  being  left  to  the  care  of  St.  Louis 
and  her  citizens.  The  feature  of  the  day  was  a  grand  exhibition  of  the 
Steam  Fire  Department,  the  pride  and  boast  of  the  city.  As  is  well 
known,  all  the  fire  engines  in  Cincinnati  are  worked  by  steam,  and 
the  few  men  necessaiy  to  manage  them  are  specially  employed  and 
paid  for  the  service.  Tlie  engines  are  ponderous,  but  verj'  easily  man- 
aged. When  off  duty  they  are  taken  to  their  houses,  put  in  perfect 
order,  and  arranged  for  firing  up  at  an  instant's  warning.  PoAverful 
liorses  are  also  kept  in  stalls  alongside,  with  harness  on,  ready  to  be 
attached  without  delay,  to  drag  the  machine  to  where  its  services  are 
required,  although,  as  soon  as  the  steam  is  u;),  the  horses  are  required 
to  do  very  little  or  no  work. 

On  this  occasion  it  was  arranged  that  at  a  given  signal  tlie  different 
steam  fire  engines  should  repair  to  the  Fifth  street  market  space,  with 
ladders,  hose  carriages,  &c.,  as  in  case  of  actual  fire,  and  there  make 
an  exhibition  of  their  mode  of  operating.  The  signal  fire-bell  sounded 
precisely  at  i  o'clock,  P.  M.  The  engines,  each  drawn  by  four  pow- 
erful horses,  speedily  came,  like  flaming  heralds,  from  every  direction ; 
huge  volumes  of  heavy  black  smoke  pouring  from  their  chimnej's. 
Ever  and  anon  they  gave  a  shrill  shriek  as  if  to  challenge  each  other 
to  the  mighty  contest.  Fifth  street  market  space  was  already  filled 
with  crowds  of  people,  and  house  tops,  fences,  and  carriages  were 
loaded  Avith  additional  spectators.  In  just  two  minutes,  the  ladders 
arrived,  and  in  less  than  another  minute  were  raised  against  the  highest 
buildings  in  the  neighborhood,  (five  stories  high,)  and  the  firemen 
were  on  the  roofs.  In  less  than  three  minutes  after  the  signal  tlie 
hose  carriages  came  dashing  through — unreeling  their  hose  as  they 
passed  along,  and  in  four  minutes  the  first  water  was  on,  and  the  pipe 
from  which  it  issued  was  on  the  roof  of  a  five-story  house.  The  hose 
and  pipe  are  hoisted  with  the  ladders,  and  the  connection  made  after 
the  hoisting.  In  less  than  six  minutes  from  the  first  tap  of  the  bell, 
steam  was  up,  and  six  engines  were  throwing  streams.  The  multitude 
shouted  at  the  appearance  of  every  new  jet,  but  the  firemen  worked 
in  perfect  silence. 

While  the  whole  department  was  in  full  play,  a  carriage  containing 
Gen.  Cass,  Gov.  Chase,  Senator  Pugh,  and  President  Wilson,  of  the 


THE    STKAM    FIRE    DErAKTMENT    OF    CINCINNATI.  203 

Marietta  Kailroad,  was  driven  up  where  a  good  view  could  be  ob- 
tained, when  an  irreverent  stream  wandered  into  tiie  party,  and 
showered  them  plentifully.  Gen.  Cass  took  the  accident  kindly,  rising 
to  let  the  water  drip  off,  and  returning  the  shout  of  the  crowd  with  a 
good-natured  smile. 

Tlie  engines  continued  to  play  for  some  time  over  the  tops  of  the 
houses;  but  at  lialf-past  four  tiie  pipes  were  all  brought  together  near 
tlie  centre  of  the  street  and  fastened  in  a  frame,  so  tliat  the  streams 
could  be  directed  perpendicularly.  The  seven  streams  shot  up  side  by 
side,  generally  keeping  perfectly  parallel  and  unbroken  for  more  than 
a  hundred  feet,  occasionally  one  diverging  a  little  so  as  to  strike  its 
neighbor,  sixty  or  eiglity  feet  from  the  ground,  and  most  of  the  streams 
beginning  to  break  and  commingle  at  something  above  a  hundred  feet 
from  tiie  nozzles.  Tiie  streams  were  all  good.  Water  was  exalted  in 
sky-sweeping  jets.  Rainbows  played  around.  Over  a  large  extent  of 
the  square  the  water  fell  as  if  a  summer  thunder  and  water-charged 
cloud  were  anchored  above,  and  suddenly  resolving  itself  into  rain. 
One  of  tlie  streams  especially  attracted  attention.  So  steady  and  firm 
was  it,  that  it  seemed  as  though  an  active  boy  might  liave  climbed  it. 
At  a  great  height  the  column  was  ornamented  with  spray,  and  the  few 
drops  that  tlew  nearest  the  sky,  took  the  form  of  a  plume,  so  that  the 
top  of  the  stream  in  the  bright  sunlight  against  the  clear  sky  was  like 
a  lofty  plume,  white  and  fantastic  as  frost.  When  all  the  streams 
were  at  once  in  the  air,  near  together,  the  scene  was  truly  mag- 
nificent. 

Measurements,  by  a  civil  engineer,  showed  tliat  the  greatest  alti- 
tude wliich  the  perpendicular  streams  obtained,  was  a  hundred  and 
sixty  feet,  and  one  of  tlicm  threw  a  stream  liorizontally,  as  far  as  250 
feet  liigh,  througli  a  small  nozzle.  It  was  evident  to  every  beholder, 
that  no  confiagration  could  long  survive  the  deluge  which  raiglit  be 
hurled  against  it  by  the  united  cttbrts  of  the  seven  machines  on  exhi- 
bition. It  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  say,  tliat  since  the  establish- 
ment of  the  present  paid  system  and  the  Steam  Fire  Department,  the  rates 
of  insurance  in  Cincinnati  have  been  voluntarily  reduced  one  half,  at 
the  same  time  that  property-owners  are  content  to  insure  now  against 
partial  damage  only,  trusting  confidently  in  the  ability  of  the  depart- 
ment to  check  every  fire  before  it  can  make  serious  headway.  The 
good  example  of  Cincinnati  in  originating  and  establishing  this  great 
moral  as  well  as  material  improvement,  might  be  followed  Avith 
equally  good  results  by  all  the  larger  cities  of  the  Union. 

Invitations  poured  in  upon  the  guests  to  visit  the  extensive  wine- 


204  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

vaults  of  Cincinnati,  her  far-famed  vinej'ards,  tl)e  Public  Schools, 
Prof.  Mitchell's  Astronomical  Observatory  on  Mount  Adams,  over- 
looking the  city,  the  Mechanics'  Institute,  and  other  lions.  Many 
strangers  gladly  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  ;  but  it  must 
be  confessed  that,  to  the  majority,  the  wine-vaults  were  the  magnet 
of  attraction. 

The  annual  product  of  the  Ohio  valley  averages  about  half  a  million 
gallons  of  wine,  worth,  when  new,  about  ninety  cents  per  gallon.  It 
is  so  remunerative  that  its  culture  is  rapidly  extending.  To  make  a 
vineyard  costs  from  two  hundred  to  five  hundred  dollars  per  acre,  and 
one  man  can  attend  to  five  acres,  besides  raising  food  for  his  family. 
An  average  crop  is  Avorth  $200  per  acre.  Nicholas  Longworth  is  the 
most  extensive  manufacturer  of  wine  in  Cincinnati.  His  cellars  cover 
a  large  area,  and  extend  under  ground  to  the  depth  of  forty  feet. 
Escorted  by  a  guide,  and  provided  with  candles,  we  wandered  about 
these  cellars,  in  which  were  stored  three  hundred  thousand  bottles  of 
the  purest  wine,  besides  several  hundred  thousand  gallons  in  casks. 
Some  of  these  casks  are  of  colossal  size,  holding  between  four  and  five 
thousand  gallons. 

The  method  of  preparation  is  thus :  In  the  spring  following  the 
pressing  of  grapes,  the  wine, — which  had  meanwhile  undergone  the 
various  fermentations,  by  which  ten  or  eleven  per  cent,  of  alcoliol  is 
developed,— is  mixed  with  a  small  quantity  of  sugar  and  put  into  strong 
bottles,  with  the  corks  well  fastened,  by  twine  and  wire.  The  sugar 
accelerates  a  second  fermentation,  which  always  takes  place  about  this 
time,  and  tlius  a  strong  movement  is  produced  inside  the  glass,  which 
generates  gas  enough  to  burst  the  vessels  briskly,  adding  thereby  con- 
siderably to  the  cost.  This  is  called  the  gaseous  fermentation,  and  it 
renders  the  drink  more  exhilarating,  more  prickling  on  the  tongue, 
and  more  fruity.  This  last  ettect  results  from  this,  that  the  flavor  of 
the  fruit  mostly  passes  ofl:"  with  the  carbonic  acid  gas  Avhich  is  largely 
generated  in  the  first  or  vinous  fermentation,  and  in  a  less  degree  in 
this  second  or  gaseous  fermentation.  Tlie  loss  of  fiavor  from  the  first 
fermentation  cannot  be  avoided ;  but  by  means  of  strong  bottles  and 
well  tied  cords,  it  can  be  saved  in  the  second.  In  the  bottling  room 
some  half  a  dozen  men  were  busily  at  work.  One  was  engaged  draw- 
ing the  wine  from  a  huge  cask — the  liquor  having  been  previously 
sweetened.  The  bottles  were  then  handed  to  another  at  the  left,  who 
with  a  machine  forced  in  the  corks,  Avliich  were  previously  softened 
with  warm  water.     These  two  filled  and  corked  with  the  regularity 


THE    CINCINNATI    WINE    VAULTS, I'UBLIC    MEETING    AT    NIGUT.     205 

of  niacliincry,  and  rapidly  enough  to  employ  four  or  five  others  in  tj'- 
ing  and  wiring  down  the  corks  to  the  neck. 

At  the  end  of  about  a  year,  the  liciuid  has  become  clear  and  a  sedi- 
ment has  been  deposited.  To  get  rid  of  this  sediment,  the  bottles  are 
placed  in  racks  made  to  fit  their  necks  and  shoulders,  inclined,  with 
corks  downward,  and  well  shaken  daily  for  several  weeks,  which  i)ro- 
cess  works  the  sediment  down  against  the  cork.  Tlie  wires  and  twine 
are  then  cut,  and  the  gas  exploding,  blows  it  otf.  Then  more  sugar, 
for  sweetness,  is  added,  a  new  cork  is  driven  in  and  fastened,  and  in  a 
few  weeks  the  article  is  ready  for  consumption. 

The  quantity  bottled  by  Mr.  Longworth  in  the  season  of  1856  was 
one  luindred  and  fifty  thousand  bottles,  and  of  1857  a  still  heavier 
quantity.  He  has  now  in  his  cellar  almost  a  half  million  bottles, 
mostly  quarts,  of  which  more  than  twenty  thousand  are  of  Isabella. 
The  demand  rapidly  increases,  the  sales  of  Mr.  Longworth  having  more 
than  trebled  since  the  year  1855. 

It  is  suggested  hy  an  expert  in  this  wine  culture — which  is  so 
rapidly  becoming  a  great  feature  of  Western  business — that  the  line 
of  the  great  Haltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  runs  through  a  country — 
from  Cumberland  to  Wheeling  especially — that  is  evidently  adapted 
to  the  vine,  for  the  double  reason  that  it  is  hilly,  and  (excepting  on 
"  the  glades ")  of  tiie  right  temperature.  It  is  said  that  in  France 
there  are  mountain  lands  like  those  in  Western  Virginia,  worth  but 
little  except  for  wood  and  minerals,  which  are  now  valued,  in  choice 
locations,  at  a  thousand  dollars  an  acre,  on  account  of  their  avail- 
ability for  the  vine. 

In  the  evening  a  large  crowd  of  citizens  and  strangers  gathered, 
by  arrangement  of  the  city  authorities,  in  the  streets  in  front,  and  on 
the  third-story  balconies  of  the  Burnet,  in  the  expectation  of  hearing 
speeches  from  some  of  the  distinguished  guests.  Mentor's  fine  brass 
band,  of  Cincinnati,  and  the  Baltimore  Blues'  band,  alternately  en- 
livened thera  for  some  time  with  their  musical  performances.  At 
eight  o'clock,  the  cries  for  "Cass,"  "Chase,"  "Svvann,"  "Douglas," 
"  Marshall,"  and  others,  could  no  longer  be  disregarded. 

At  the  invitation  of  the  Committee,  Gov.  Chase  came  forward  upon 
the  eastern  platform,  in  front  of  the  hotel,  and  said  : 

Fellow-Citizkns  :  A  few  hours  since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  introducing  to 
you  the  eminent  citizen  who  presides  over  the  State  Department  of  the  Federal 
Government,  and  was  gratified  by  the  cordial  reception  which  you  gave  to 
him — a  reception  due  to  his  age,  to  his  position,  and  to  his  patriotism.  I  have 
now  the  gratification  of  invoking  a  like  cordial  reception  fur  a  distinguit^hed 


20G  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    KAILKOAD    Ol'KMNG. 

gentleman,  the  cherished  personal  friend  of  my  earlier  years,  who  long  pre- 
sided over  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  to  whose  patient,  persevei'ing  and  intelligent  labors  much  of  its  re- 
markable success  is  due.  He  was  among  the  first  to  see  the  vital  importance 
of  its  connection  with  this,  our  own  beautiful  city  ;  and  to  the  advancement  of 
her  interests  in  connection  with  those  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  his  constant 
endeavors  have  been  zealously  devoted. 

Called  subsequently  to  the  office  of  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Baltimore — an 
office  which  he  now  adorns — his  most  earnest  wishes  and  eflforts  are  still  en- 
gaged in  the  noble  work  of  advancing  further  and  further  towards  final  con- 
summation the  great  line  of  Central  Railway,  destined  at  length  to  i-each  the 
border  of  the  Pacific,  when  another  celebration  will  be  held,  and,  rising  on  the 
shores  of  the  old  Chesapeake  Bay,  the  acclaim  of  gratulation  shall  swell  and 
echo  from  that  city  until  it  reaches  and  lingers  upon  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco. 
I  am  glad  that  he  will  now  have  an  opportunity  of  addressing  this  vast  con- 
course of  my  fellow-citizens  of  Cincinnati  and  of  Ohio,  and  of  our  welcome  guests 
from  all  sections  of  the  Republic,  to  participate  in  the  rejoicings  of  this  occa- 
sion. I  introduce  to  you,  gentlemen,  the  early,  energetic  and  persistent  friend 
of  this  great  work — our  own  friend  and  the  friend  of  our  city — Thomas  Swann, 
the  Mayor  of  Baltimore. 

Mr.  Swaiin  was  warmly  received,  and — thongli  somewhat  stunned 
by  the  Governor's  higlily  flattering  introduction — proceeded  to  ad- 
dress the  multitude  as  follows : 

Fellow-Citizens  of  Cin'cinsati  :  The  complimentary'  manner  in  which 
my  humble  name  has  been  introduced  here  to-night  by  the  Governor  of  your 
State,  will,  I  fear,  excite  expectations  which  may  not  be  met  by  any  thing  I 
can  say  in  reference  to  the  important  subject  which  now  engrosses  so  large  a 
share  of  the  attention  of  your  whole  city.  This  is  no  fault  of  mine.  My  distin- 
guished friend  has  done  me  more  than  justice,  and  I  feel  that  much  of  what 
he  has  said  is  due  to  that  ancient  friendship  to  which  he  has  referred. 

I  am  here,  fellow-citizens,  from  a  far-off  city  upon  the  seaboard — a  city 
with  which  you  have  not  been  without  your  relations  of  friendly  intercourse  in 
times  past.  I  have  traversed  a  journey  of  six  hundred  miles,  in  company  with 
the  public  autliorities  by  whom  I  am  surrounded,  to  show  you  how  much  as  a 
community  the  city  of  Baltimore  participates  in  the  rejoicings  of  this  occa- 
.sion.  I  thank  my  friends  here  for  the  kind  invitation  which  has  been  extended 
to  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  Baltimore  to  be  present  on  an  occasion  of  so 
much  interest.  I  reciprocate  to  the  fullest  extent  the  generous  feeling  which 
has  prompted  this  act  of  municipal  courtesy. 

This  is  a  great  day  for  Cinciiniati.  The  opening  of  the  important  com- 
bination of  road.s,  which  we  are  here  to  inaugurate,  is  an  epoch  ever  to  be 
remembered  in  the  history  of  your  State.  Nor  is  it  without  its  interest  to  the 
whole  Union,  because  it  binds  together  by  ties  of  commercial  and  social 
brotherhood,  two  of  its  most  distant  extremes.  Fellow-citizens,  there  is  no 
expenditure  of  capital — there  is  no  employment  of  labor — there  is  no  direc- 
tion that  can  be  given  to  the  enterprise  of  your  citizens  which  contributes  or 
can  contribute  more  to  the  value  and  prosperity  of  a  country,  than  the  con- 
struction of  railroads  through  densely  peopled  neighborhoods,  or  in  regions 
where  nature  has  failed  to  provide  facilities  for  an  easy  interchange  between 
convenient  market.-^. 

Situated  as  you  are  here,  in  the  midst  of  a  country  unsurpassed  in  all  the 
elements  of  substantial  wealth,  you  naturally  look  to  the  readiest  market  and 


Sl'EECH    OF    HON.    THOMAS    SWAXX,    AT    CINCINNATI.  207 

tlie  highest  prices  for  the  productions  of  your  soil.  Without  these  your  re- 
sources are  undeveloped,  and  your  career  must  be  more  or  less  retarded  by 
the  contiujrencies  to  -which  you  ure  exposed,  in  the  absence  of  artificial  aids. 
The  completion  of  the  road  over  which  we  have  passed  in  our  journey  to  this 
point,  opens  this  improved  prospect  to  your  view.  The  extended  market  of 
the  eastern  seaboard  is  now  before  you.  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia,  and  New 
York  and  Boston,  are  all  within  your  reach.  You  have  the  choice  of  markets, 
and  you  have  the  satisfaction  to  know  that  all  this  has  been  brought  about  by 
the  enterprise  and  public  spirit  of  your  own  citizens. 

Ten  years  ago  the  city  of  Baltimore  was  in  the  situation  of  Cincinnati  and 
St.  Louis  before  the  completion  of  these  important  works.  She  had  an  in- 
dustrious population — one  of  the  best  harbors  in  the  world — mineral  wealth  at 
her  own  door,  and  unsurpassed  mineral  facilities;  but  she  had  no  finished 
railroads,  and  as  a  consequence  no  back  county  to  sustain  her.  She  had 
drawn  her  scanty  supplies  from  the  great  West  before  railroads  were  known. 
The  path  of  the  pack-horse  is  still  to  be  traced  in  the  valleys  and  upon  the 
mountain  tops  of  that  stupendous  belt  which  separates  the  great  valley  of  the 
Ohio  from  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 

It  was  at  that  period  that  some  of  our  most  prominent  and  public- 
spirited  citizens,  after  a  pause  of  many  J'cars,  revived  the  idea  of  completing  a 
continuous  chain  of  railroad  communication  with  the  luivigable  waters  of  the 
great  ^^'est — to  which,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  we  had  been  directing  our 
attention.  The  State  of  Virginia,  in  1847,  gave  us  a  charter.  It  was  not 
such  a  charter  as  we  wanted,  because  it  located  the  point  of  contact  with  the 
projected  ^\'estern  improvements  too  far  North  to  make  us  comfortable,  iu 
view  of  the  rapidly  advancing  works  of  our  Northern  neighbors.  We  had  no 
money,  but  in  this  respect  we  were  pretty  much  iu  the  situation  of  all  similar 
enterprises  at  that  day.  We  had  a  road  to  build  whose  estimated  cost  was 
more  than  .§7,000,000,  and  how  it  was  to  be  accomplished,  in  the  absence  of 
material  aid,  was  not  without  its  incidents  of  ridicule  and  merriment,  among 
those  who  had  predicted  its  failure. 

I  once  asked  a  mechanic  who  was  employed  to  build  a  house,  upon  what 
plan  he  designed  to  finish  it.  After  a  good  deal  of  doubt  and  hesitation,  he 
made  a  reply  which  I  have  often  thought  of  in  connection  with  the  finances  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.  "  The  tnith  is,"  said  he,  "  I  have  not 
troubled  myself  much  about  that.  You  need  give  yourself  no  uneasiness,  for 
as  we  progress  all  will  come  naturaUi/."  The  mone}'  did  come,  but  I  can't  say 
that  it  came  "  naturally."  A\  e  had  to  resort  to  a  good  many  expedients  to 
accomplish  what  we  wanted.  But  we  got  the  money  and  we  made  the  road — 
that  great  line  which  the  illustrious  Washington  indicated  as  the  probable 
channel  of  trade  between  the  East  and  West,  before  railroads  weie  known  or 
thought  of.  No  sooner  had  we  emerged  from  this  great  effort — worn  out  and 
exhausted  as  you  may  well  imagine — than  we  saw,  or  thought  we  saw,  un- 
mistakable indications  that  our  mission  was  not  yet  ended.  The  State  of 
Virginia  relaxed  her  restrictive  policy,  for  we  were  wholly  dependent  upon  her 
liberality — and  allowed  us  to  do  what  we  had  asked  in  the  beginning,  viz. :  to 
form  a  junction  with  the  Ohio  river  at  the  town  of  Parkersburg,  04  miles  be- 
low Wheeling.  This  is  the  road  over  which  we  have  passed,  and  which  presents 
the  shortest  and  straiglitest  line  from  your  city  to  the  Atlantic  coast.  It  is 
part  and  parcel  of  the  great  combination  which  we  are  here  this  day  to  cele- 
brate. During  my  official  connection  with  the.se  two  stupendous  works,  look- 
ing to  a  close  union  with  your  beautiful  city,  and  the  rich  country  that  sur- 
rounds it,  more  than  .sl3,000,000  was  disbursed.  It  was  a  large  sum  for  the 
little  Stjite  of  Marj'land,  who  had  already  expended  more  than  >-20,000,000in 
her  other  works  of  internal  improvement.    I  say  it  with  pride  here,  that  in  the 


208  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPEMNC, 

development  of  her  geographical  position,  the  State  of  Maryland  has  done  as 
much,  in  proportion  to  her  population,  as  any  State  in  this  Union. 

P'ellow-citizens :  Take  up  the  map  of  your  Union — draw  an  air  line 
through  this  central  region  of  the  West  to  the  nearest  harbor  on  the  seaboard. 
You  will  find  that  St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati  will  stand  as  glittering  landmarks 
upon  the  route  of  this  great  highway,  while  the  city  of  Baltimore  must  form 
its  Eastern  terminus.  The  people  of  my  State  and  city  have  not  been  blind 
to  the  advantages  of  their  geographical  position.  They  know  where  they 
stand  and  what  is  required  at  their  hands.  For  years  past  their  efforts  have 
been  directed  towards  the  very  results  which  we  are  now  celebrating.  They 
have  braved  every  obstacle — encountered  every  species  of  abuse — turued  away 
from  every  temptation,  in  order  to  secure  the  advantages  of  the  most  direct 
communication  with  the  AVest.  With  the  discontented  at  home — in  the  Legis- 
lature of  Virginia — among  the  towns  and  villages,  and  private  interests — look- 
ing to  resvilting  benefits  from  the  projected  improvement,  they  have  fought  the 
battle  of  the  American  central  line.  They  have  looked  without  falterino'  to 
the  accomplishment  of  a  point  on  the  Ohio  river  as  the  limit  of  their  labors, 
where,  by  a  junction  with  your  proposed  improvements,  they  could  secure  to 
themselves  the  most  direct  passage  to  your  Queen  City,  and  beyond  it  to  St. 
Louis  and  the  distant  Pacific. 

When  I  was  in  Cincinnati  seven  years  ago,  iu  furtherance  of  the  policy 
upon  which  I  was  then  acting,  I  addressed  a  letter  to  a  gentleman  represent- 
ing your  City  Council,  in  reference  to  what  I  beUeved  to  be  the  true  interests 
of  Cincinnati  in  the  direction  she  was  then  giving  to  her  internal  improvement 
system.  I  beg  you  to  refer  at  your  leisure  to  the  views  presented  in  that 
document.  I  pointed  to  the  danger  to  which  you  were  exposed  by  the  net- 
work of  railroads  which  was  then  in  process  of  formation  north  of  you.  I  saw 
an  evident  tendencv  to  head  off  the  commercial  attractions  of  your  city.  I 
saw  combinations  forming,  which  would  eventually  reach  even  to  St.  Louis, 
without  the  slightest  regard  to  any  claim  of  centrality  which  Cincinnati 
might  be  supposed  to  possess.  There  was  enough  to  satisfy  me  that  your 
safety  was  in  the  Southern  line,  and  the  connections  south  of  you.  That  what- 
ever you  succeeded  in  drawing  into  this  channel,  whether  from  the  East  or 
the  West,  was  exclusively  your  own,  and  could  not  be  wrested  from  you  by 
any  Northern  attraction.  I  am  happy  to  find  now  that  I  was  not  mistaken  iu 
this  position.  Experience  iuis  shown  that  there  is  too  strong  a  Northern  in- 
fluence governing  this  whole  region,  and  that  the  only  way  to  counteract  it, 
is  by  your  prompt  and  undivided  support  of  the  American  Central  line — not  in 
part,  but  as  a  whole — to  make  it  a  Cincinnati  work  both  East  and  West — and 
to  indicate  such  a  policy  as  shall  dedicate  its  whole  energies  to  build  up  your 
own  city,  and  the  other  cities  that  enter  into  the  combination. 

Your  Governor  has  told  you  that  I  was  the  friend  of  Cincinnati.  Balti- 
more and  Cincinnati  have  occupied  such  a  relative  position  ou  the  map,  that 
I  could  not  do  otherwise  than  advocate  a  policy  which  nmst  operate  alike  ad- 
vantageously to  both.  I  saw  how  they  could  confer  mutual  benefits  ou  each 
other.  I  saw  how  they  could  control  beyond  rivalry  the  patronao-e  of  this 
productive  region.  I  saw  how  they  could  build  up  a  system  of  commercial  in- 
terchange, which,  while  it  imparted  strength  to  the  Central  American  line, 
would  dispense  its  benefits  to  all  classes  and  interests  within  the  sphere  of  its 
attraction. 

Fellow-citizens,  the  great  arginnent  upon  which  I  stand  here  to-nioht,  in 
my  earnest  advocacy  of  the  union  between  our  two  cities,  is  that  of  interest. 
Men  may  cultivate  social  relations,  but  commercial  alliances  will  always  stand 
or  fall  by  the  mutual  benefits  which  they  confer.     The  sympathy  of  one  com- 


SPEECH    OF    HON.    THOMAS    SWANN,    AT    CINX'INXATI.  209 

mxinity  with  another,  in  a  great  country  like  this,  is  not  dependent  upon  a 
mere  theoretic  exposition  of  convenient  hces  and  reduced  distances.  We  must 
give  vigor  and  animation  to  your  trade.  We  must  show  that  tliat  reciprocal 
tralhc  produces  reciprocal  benefits.  The  love  of  one  people  towards  another  is 
sooner  promoted  by  results  such  as  these  than  by  all  the  impassioned  appeals 
that  it  would  be  competent  for  me  to  make  to  j^our  noble  and  generous  im- 
pulses. When  we  ask  you  to  miite  with  us  commercially,  it  is  out  of  place  to 
talk  about  kindly  feelings  and  social  sympathies.  We  must  present  a  business 
view,  and  you  will  answer  it  by  a  practical  business  appeal  to  your  pockets. 
This  is  one  of  those  fundamental  principles  of  trade  and  commerce  which  can- 
not be  modified  or  interfered  with  by  conventional  restrictions.  Communities 
will  trade  where  they  make  most  money,  and  where,  in  their  system  of  com- 
mercial interchange,  they  encounter  less  risk,  and  are  subjected  to  fewer 
drawbacks.  We  come,  therefore,  to  tell  you  that  Baltimore  is  your  natural 
market.  We  come  to  tell  you,  that  in  your  combinations  with  the  North- 
western, Virginia,  and  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroads,  you  will  put  money  in 
your  pockets.  AVe  come  to  tell  you  that  your  interest,  your  true  interest,  is 
with  the  Central  American  line. 

Fellow- citizens,  when  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  was  commenced, 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  the  city  of  Baltimore  had  an  assessable 
basis  of  little  more  than  .s2.5,()0(),()00  of  property.  At  the  period  of  its  com- 
pletion to  Cumberland,  this  amount  had  greatly  increased — and  now,  as  the 
result  of  its  connection  with  the  Ohio  river  and  the  great  West,  it  has  reached 
a  limit  of  more  than  $100,000,000.  The  extension  of  this  road  from  Cum- 
berland has  added  more  than  51.50,000,000  to  the  assessable  basis  of  the  city 
of  Baltimore.  If  we  realize  no  farther  return,  the  account  is  settled,  and  more 
than  settled,  and  our  city  has  reaped  the  full  benefit  of  her  investment. 

The  management  of  railroads  in  this  country  is  a  subject  iipou  which  we 
have  still  much  to  learn.  As  necessary  avenues  of  trade  their  results  are 
shown  in  the  development  of  inaccessible  and  unproductive  lands,  and  the 
building  up  of  cities :  as  objects  of  investment  they  will  always  be  governed, 
more  or  less,  by  the  administrative  skiU  and  economy  with  which  they  are 
conducted,  and  the  necessity  [for  their  original  construction.  We  are  too 
apt  to  forget  that,  in  addition  to  ordinary  wear  and  tear  requiring  a  certain 
amount  of  their  gross  earnings,  a  reasonable  repair  fund  should  be  set  aside 
from  year  to  year.  The  life  of  a  road  will  be  regulated  by  the  amount  of 
trade  which  it  accommodates,  and  provision  should  be  made  in  its  expense  ac- 
count for  its  entire  renovation  within  a  given  period.  A  neglect  of  this  im- 
portant and  indispensable  requirement  has  led  to  eiTor  and  miscalculation 
heretofore  in  regard  to  the  details  of  management,  as  well  as  the  value  of  rail- 
road securities  in  this  country. 

Another  important  point  is  the  inadequacy  of  toll-sheets  to  produce  a  saving 
return  upon  the  amoimt  of  capital  invested  in  them.  The  multiplicity  of  rail- 
roads, intersecting  almost  every  part  of  this  country,  has  led  to  a  most  un- 
wholesome and  destructive  rivalry.  So  far  as  the  great  through  lines  are  con- 
cerned, this  tendency  should  be  promptly  arrested.  The  disadvantages  of 
location  cannot  be  overcome  by  reduced  rates  of  transportation  without  detri- 
ment to  the  productive  power  of  the  investment.  We  need  entertain  no 
appreliension  of  a  want  of  patronage  for  all  the  roads  now  constructed  with 
reference  to  the  trade  and  travel  of  the  West.  If  we  give  up  competition — if 
we  establish  proper  toll-sheets — if  we  manage  judiciously  and  economically — I 
see  no  reason  why  a  satisfactory  return  may  not  be  made  by  all  the  roads 
whose  arms  have  been  stretched  forth  to  invite  you  to  the  markets  of  the 
seaboard. 


210  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

Fellow-citizens,  it  is  almost  incredible  to  look  at  the  progress  of  tlie  works 
of  internal  improvement  that  arc  now  traversing  the  length  and  breadth  of 
this  vast  country.  Every  State  has  been  aroused  in  this  struggle  for  progress 
and  development — and  will  point  you  to  the  monuments  of  their  successful 
enterprise.  Already  a  network  of  iron  has  been  formed  stretching  to  every 
accessible  market — the  mountain  barriers  which  separated  State  from  State, 
and  section  from  section,  have  been  removed — the  shrill  note  of  tlie  steam- 
whistle  is  heard  in  the  valley,  and  upon  the  hili-tops ;  rivers  have  been 
spanned,  forests  penetrated,  and  the  improved  facilities  of  commercial  inter- 
change have  consolidated  and  knit  together,  in  one  indissoluble  bond  of  union, 
the  productive  energies  of  this  great  people.  When  I  was  a  boy  at  college  in 
the  District  of  Columbia,  I  remember  to  have  visited  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, to  hear  the  great  speech  of  Henry  Clay  on  the  Cumberland  road  hill. 
That  distinguished  statesman  was  then  in  the  vigor  of  his  manhood — the  pride 
of  his  own  State  and  the  glory  of  the  whole  Union.  He  spoke  of  the  stupendous- 
ness  of  that  enterprise,  and  threatened,  in  a  tone  which  I  shall  never  forget, 
that  we  would  sooner  or  later  teach  the  proud  Alleghany  to  bow  his  head  and 
yield  submissive  to  the  power  of  a  progressive  people. 

How  strange  a  picture  would  be  presented  at  this  day,  if  we  could  fancy  to 
ourselves  a  caravan  of  wagons  wending  their  lazy  course  over  the  unbroken 
summit  of  the  Alleghany,  on  such  a  road  as  Mr.  Clay  described,  laden  with 
the  millions  of  tons  of  freight,  that  are  now  being  poured  in  upon  the  seaboard, 
from  this  productive  and  boundless  region.  Fellow-citizens,  we  were  not 
content  with  any  such  mode  of  arriving  at  results.  Mr.  Clay  had  the  idea, 
hut  it  was  too  soon  even  for  his  astute  mind  to  foresee  its  ti-ue  application. 
We  did  teach  the  proud  Alleghany  to  bow  his  head,  not  by  rendering  his  sum- 
mit subservient  to  the  will  of  man  by  the  easy  process  to  which  he  referred, 
hut  by  opening  wide  his  i-ock-bound  portals  to  the  resistless  power  of  the  lo- 
comotive hanging  upon  his  steep  and  rugged  mountain  sides,  leaping  his  foam- 
ing torrents,  and  piercing  his  very  bowels  in  its  defiant  march  of  wonder  and 
of  triumpli. 

Look  at  the  great  enterprises  that  put  forth  their  arms  to  welcome  you  to 
the  seaboard — the  New  York  and  Erie,  the  Central  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroads.  What  country  on  the  face  of  the  earth  can 
hoast  of  such  eutei-prises  as  these  constn;cted  within  the  same  limit  of  time 
and  vmder  the  same  disadvantages  ?  When  I  visited  England  in  1853,  on  the 
completion  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  I  was  forcibly  struck  with  the 
superior  tact  and  energy  of  our  own  people,  in  the  projection  of  their  works  of 
internal  improvement.  England  has  spent  more  money,  but  she  has  not  accora- 
plihhed  the  same  results,  nor  has  she  exhibited  the  same  inventive  resources. 
When  I  told  those  people  of  the  expedients  to  which  we  had  been  sometimes 
compelled  to  resort — of  our  zig-zags  over  precipitous  mountains — of  our  trans- 
porting the  Government  mail  by  locomotive  steam  power  over  a  grade  of  five 
hundred  feet  to  the  mile,  they  could  scarcely  be  brought  to  believe  that  I  was 
not  dealing  in  fiction.  The  truth  is,  they  were,  not  without  an  excuse  for 
their  want  of  iaith.  They  had  many  a  desperate  assault  upon  their  credulity. 
I  discovered  to  my  amusement  that  they  manifested  a  singular  curiosity  upon 
the  uses  of  an  invention  attached  to  our  engines,  to  protect  them  against  out- 
side intruders,  known  as  the  cow-catcher.  They  had  no  idea  of  a  road  with- 
out sodded  embankments,  and  a  fence  on  either  side,  to  make  it  secure  beyond 
peradventurc.  They  had  been  told  of  a  caricature  of  one  of  our  Westei-n 
trains  Hearing  a  market  upon  the  seaboard,,  after  a  long  and  successful  run — 
perhaps  from  this  very  city — with  this  horrible  appendage,  the  cow-catcher, 
in  front,  laden  down  with  the  mangled  bodies  of  horses,  and  cows   and  wild 


SPEECH    OF    HON.    THOMAS    SWANN,    AT    CINCINNATI.  211 

tiirkeys,  and  last,  though  not  least,  with  men,  women,  and  children.     It  con- 
veyed a  lasting:  imprecision  of  the  genius  of  young  America,  and  lier  railroads. 

And  now,  fellow-citizens,  yoii  have  finished  your  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
road.  You  have  brought  the  iron  horse  to  your  own  doors  from  the  far-off 
region  which  it  traverses ;  but  do  you  think  that  all  this  is  going  to  satisfy 
the  restless  spirit  of  your  people?  No,  no.  Just  as  sure  as  we  stand  here  to- 
iiiglit  this  great  enterprise  has  stopped  short  of  its  destination.  It  is  pointing 
onward  to  a  still  nobler  destiny,  even  beyond  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  and  its 
giant  march  will  be  averted  only  by  the  distant  shores  of  the  Pacific.  And 
why  not  ?  Is  there  any  thing  extravagant  in  the  prediction  ?  Has  the  Gov- 
ernment no  interest  in  binding  together  the  remote  extremes  of  this  glorious 
Union  ?  Is  her  treasury  so  weak  that  she  may  not  undertake  it  ?  Has  she 
less  enterprise  than  New  York,  and  Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio,  and  Missouri, 
and  the  little  State  of  Maryland  ?  What  is  to  retard  this  great  national  en- 
terprise— the  chaining  together  of  the  great  oceans  that  wash  her  eastern  and 
western  borders.  We  live  in  an  age  when  men  have  ceased  to  speculate  on 
probabilities.  Every  thing  is  practicable  and  every  thing  is  going  to  be  done 
which  the  genius  of  man  can  devise,  and  we  must  do  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye,  what  it  would  have  required  ages  to  conceive  and  ages  to  execute  in  the 
days  of  our  old  I'ogy  ancestors. 

I  fear,  fellow-citizens,  that  I  have  occupied  too  much  of  yoiir  time.  My 
friends  will  make  allowance  for  the  tact  that  I  have  been  an  old  raih-oad  Cap- 
tain. I  have  almost  lost  sight  of  the  position  in  which  I  stand  here  to-night  as 
the  representative  of  the  city  of  Baltimore — surrounded  by  her  corporate  au- 
thorities— traversing  a  weary  expanse — to  show  her  appreciation  of  your  la- 
bors in  this  great  field  of  enterprise,  and  to  give  assurance  of  her  hearty  co- 
operation in  the  effort  to  draw  closer  the  ties  which  now  bind  ns  together  as 
one  people,  having  common  interests  and  a  common  destiny.  In  the  midst  of 
all  the  obstacles  by  which  our  past  career  has  been  obstructed — obstacles 
which  threatened,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  discomfiture  and  ruin  to  our 
hopes — I  was  among  the  number  of  those  who  looked  with  a  steady  eye  to 
a  period  when  every  cloud  would  be  dispersed.  I  looked  to  Cincinnati  and 
St.  Louis,  and  the  distant  shores  of  the  Pacific — I  believed  that  in  due  season 
the  remotest  of  these  points  would  be  bound  to  us  by  commercial  ties  These 
expectations  have  been  in  part  met.  These  hopes  have  been  so  far  realized  as 
to  give  increased  assurance  of  tile  future. 

When  I  look  at  the  growth  of  this  country  in  the  last  few  years — when  I 
look  at  the  expansive  power  and  energies  of  our  people,  I  am  lost  in  wonder 
and  amazement.  The  first  visit  I  paid  to  Oiiio  was  in  1830.  You  were  then 
just  entering  upon  that  career  of  prosperity  which  has  since  placed  you  here  in 
the  first  rank  of  cities.  Your  population  was  then,  if  I  mistake  not,  little 
over  30,000  souls ;  it  has  since  reached  five  times  that  limit.  The  region  be- 
yond you  was  a  wilderness.  St.  Louis  occupied  an  obscure  position,  almost 
Avitbout  the  limits  of  commercial  interchange,  excepting  by  the  uncertain 
higliway  which  nature  liad  provided,  and  which  bound  her  to  a  distant  and 
unprofitable  market  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  California  had  not  opened  her 
golden  gates  to  the  march  of  the  invader.  The  waves  of  the  Pacific  beat 
upon  a  shore  which  even  speculation  had  not  approached  in  its  inquisitive 
inarch.  The  great  Northwest  lay  among  the  locked-up  treasures  of  this  vast 
continent.  The  rich  and  jwwerful  cities  that  have  since  risen,  like  exhahitions 
from  the  bosom  of  the  Northern  lakes,  whose  margin  they  adorn,  were  then  in 
their  infancy.  And  what  has  brought  about  the  change  which  we  now  be- 
hold? The  march  of  civilization  has  been  forced  onward  by  the  power  of 
steam.     Railroads  have  been  the  prominent  and  leading  agents  in  this  work 


212  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

of  progress.  Men  have  been  stimulated  in  their  career  of  settlement  and 
discovery  by  the  promised  coming  of  the  iron  horse. 

Fellow-citizens,  we  hear  occasional  speculations  upon  the  probable  dura- 
tion of  our  glorious  Union.  But  who  can  despair  of  the  ti'iumphant  mission  of 
this  great  republic,  when  we  behold  what  steam  has  accomplished  and  is  still 
accomplishing,  in  binding  together  remote  States  of  this  great  confederacy. 
Rome  fell  into  decay  from  the  extent  of  her  territory — and  the  diversity  of 
her  possessions.  Her  people  became  alienated,  in  the  absence  of  social  and 
commercial  interchange.  But  here  we  shall  soon  pass  from  the  St.  Lawrence 
to  the  Gulf  of  ilexico — from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  coast,  almost  in  the 
time  that  it  would  have  required,  without  the  interposition  of  railroads  or  the 
power  of  steam,  to  march  an  anuy  from  this  city  to  a  point  on  the  Eastern  sea- 
board. Every  State  has  its  independent  avenues  of  communication,  and  these 
are  destined  to  render  more  and  more  perfect  the  power  of  concentration  and 
the  cherished  ties  of  brotherhood,  which  must  bind  us  together  in  all  future 
time,  as  a  united  and  happy  people. 

I  tender  to  you  again,  fellow-citizens,  most  cordially  the  congratulations  of 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  and  I  trust  that  your  reward  may  not  be  unworthy  the  en- 
terprise and  public  spirit  of  your  citizens  in  achieving  the  great  results  which 
we  have  been  called  to  witness  this  day. 

Mr.  Swann's  practical  and  eloquent  address  was  attentively  listened 
to  by  the  throng,  and  frequently  interrupted  by  hearty  ai)plause. 

Hon.  Thos.  F.  Marshall,  of  Kentucky,  whose  popularity  seems 
tough  enough  to  stand  any  test,  Avas  next  called  out,  and  appeared 
upon  the  platform  amid  tumultuous  applause.  Several  minutes  elapsed, 
during  which  he  stood  swaying  himself  gracefully  to  and  fro,  ere  he 
essayed  to  speak.  He  then  delivered  an  utterly  irreportable  speech — a 
queer  mixture  of  eloquence,  humor,  genius,  sense,  and  nonsense,  such 
as  nobody  else  could  well  compound  : 

He  began,  by  the  remark  that  Col.  Benton  is  going  about,  saying  the  Union 
is  in  danger,  and  the  statement  that  when  a  fellow  is  a  broken-down  politician, 
he  thinks  the  Union  is  gone.  [Loud  laughter.]  '•  If,"  said  Mai'shall,  "  I  had 
gone  to  Congress,  the  Union  would  have  been  all  right  now.  I  w^as  defeated, 
and  didn't  go  to  Congress,  but  the  Union  is  still  safe.  I  think  the  people  made 
a  d 1  of  a  mistake,  but  the  Union  ain't  in  danger. 

"As for  you,  Ohio  people,  I  have  no  right  to  speak,  as  I  came  from  Ken- 
tucky, wliere  they  keep  niggers.  Now  Ohio  is  a  great  State.  On  one  side 
is  the  lake  and  on  the  other  the  river,  and  you  fellows  are  so  industrious  that 
you  are  uniting  them  by  streams  through  the  country'.  You  have,  too,  a  gi-eat 
many  railroad*,  and  if  these  were  put  together,  they  would  reach  to  the  Pacific. 
I  have  in  the  last  five  weeks  travelled  extensively  in  Ohio,  and  am  free  to  con- 
fess I  consider  it  a  great  State,  great  in  physical  and  intellectual  progress. 
You  fellows  are  getting  along  in  both.  You  have  great  railroads,  and  plenty 
of  schools.  Out  of  two  millions  of  your  people,  five  hundred  thousand  go  to 
school;  and  lately  I  visited  one  of  your  colleges,  the  finest  I  ever  saw,  where 
300  men  are  taught  ever)'  branch  of  knowledge  by  the  best  professors,  and 
really  Cincinnati  is  a  great  place.  I  can  remember,  (and  I  am  not  an  old 
man,)  when  it  was  a  village,  and  in  the  records  of  modern  history,  not  a  cen- 
tury ago,  it  was  a  wilderness.  Our  orators  talk  about  the  A\'est !  Lord,  what 
a  place  that  is  to  talk  about !     I  am  Ibnd  of  geographical  discussions,  and  this 


SPEECH    OF    HON.    THOMAS    F.    MARSHALL,    AT    CINCINNATI.       213 

triangle,  bounded  by  the  Mississippi,  the  Ohio  River,  and  the  Lake,  I  think 
Virginia  ceded  to  Congress.  Congress  passed  the  ordinance  of  1 789,  and  see 
the  result.  I  have  sometimes  tliought  God  Almighty  tried  his  best  when 
making  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  when  Virginia  ceded  it,  it  was  a  wilderness. 
Now  look  at  tlie — the — the  Ordinance  of  17S0,  (a  voice)  '  Tom,  you're  tight.' 
JMarshall.  'If  you  were  as  tight  as  I  am  (hie)  now,  nobody  would  recognize 
you.  Now  listen  and  see  if  I  am  tight.  Tliat  gorgeous  Jlississippi,  whose  pic- 
turesque meanderings  are  bordered  by  flower's  and  undulating  rank  grass,  and 
unrecognized  save  by  the  zephj-rs  of  love,  was  never  to  be  stained  by  the  foot 
of  a  slave.'  "     [Applause.] 

After  glancing  at  the  Hue  and  prosperous  States  that  had  grown  out  of  the 
Northwestern  Territor}"-,  Mr.  Marshall  developed  in  a  rather  incoherent  manner, 
but  with  occasional  happy  flashes,  the  fact  that  varied  prodvictions  beget  ex- 
change, and  fasten  commercial  relations  and  vinions.  He  held  that  democracy 
was  most  successful  when  it  had  ample  expansion,  and  ridiculing  nullification 
and  deprecating  fanatical  disunion  abolitiouists.  He  recalled  some  very  vague 
ideas;  wished  about  a  knife,  and  cutting  a  rope,  so  that  both  South  Carolina 
and  Massachusetts  might  drown  when  they  cavorted.  He  said  some  people 
supposed  that  the  spread  of  Democracy  would  play  the  devil,  but  it  didn't ; 
but  if  confined,  it  would  burst  any  thing  on  God  Almighty's  earth. 

He  then  dilated  on  the  different  shapes  of  this  Continent  from  others. 
Looking,  said  he,  from  the  North,  where  J>r.  Kane  died  trying  to  find  a  road, 
that  I  don't  see  would  have  been  of  any  use  if  he  had  fotuid  it,  and  besides,  there 
ain't  no  way  since  the  Almighty  made  it  right  fast  and  hitched  it  on  to  the 
north  pole.  Look  on  down  at  the  corn-bearing  region.  I  hear  you  can  grow 
100  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre  in  the  JNIiarai  Valley,  and  the  only  difficulty  is, 
you  distil  too  much  of  it  into  whiskey  that  ruins  a  great  many  talented  men  ; 
then  away  down  South  to  the  sugar  plantations,  see  how  varied  the  produc- 
tions. How  gorgeous  Ibis  Continent,  how  numberless  its  productions.  This 
variety  makes  trade  and  binds  the  Union. 

Marshall  here  swayed  about  a  little  and  began  again — 

"  Who  would  trade  potatoes  for  potatoes  ?" 

A  voice  from  the  other  side  of  the  street — "  Hurrah  !" 

Marshall — "  I  hope  when  that  comet  comes,  old  fellow,  it  will  switch  you 
with  its  tail." 

He  then  went  on  to  elucidate  the  idea  that  the  trade  of  Europe  and  Asia 
must  centre  here — that  here  their  products  must  be  exchanged.  He  then 
showed  the  folly  of  the  notion  that  the  Union  could  be  dissolved,  and  pictured 
the  condition  of  Kentucky  in  such  an  event,  obliged  to  pay  import  duties  to 
seaboard  States,  and  serve  as  the  outpost  of  Slavery,  yet  certain  to  find  her 
negroes  poor  stock.  He  then  traced  the  moral  and  philosophical  uses  of 
mountains,  rains  and  rivers  generally,  and  referred  to  the  Mississippi  Valley 
reclining  with  her  liead  in  the  lakes — her  feet  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  her 
arms  grasping  the  Alleghany  and  Rocky  Mountains.  [A  voice — "Louder."] 
Marshall — "  I  am  saj'ing  some  beautiful  things,  and  you  have  not  sense  enough 
to  imderstand  them.''     [Again  the  voice — ''Louder."] 

Mr.  Marshall,  evidently  disconcerted — "  At  the  day  of  judgment,  when  the 
Ruler  of  the  Universe  is  trying  all  things,  I  expect  some  d d  fool  will  bel- 
low at  him."  [Loud  laughter.]  He  went  on  and  made  some  very  fine  re- 
mark.s  on  the  topics  he  had  broached,  and  then  concluded  by  an  eloquent  al- 
lusion to  the  providential  discovery  of  America  at  the  proper  time,  the  glory 
of  religious  toleration,  and  the  .sublimity  of  being  free  from  priestly  and  aristo- 
cratic tyranny. 


214  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

Arrangements  had  been  made  for  speeches  by  several  favorite  ora- 
tors from  Maryland  and  Virginia,  including  Hon.  J.  Morrison  Harris, 
Hon.  Philip  Francis  Thomas,  Hon.  J.  Dixon  Roman,  and  others ;  but  the 
lateness  of  tlie  hour  at  whicli  Mr.  Marshall  closed,  prevented  their 
being  heard. 

On  the  evening  preceding  the  arrival  of  the  general  excursionists, 
whose  journeyings  we  have  been  noting,  a  dinner  was  given  at  the 
Burnet  House,  by  Mr.  Ciuirles  Gould,  the  Treasurer  of  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Railroad — to  a  party  mainly  of  his  personal  friends,  con- 
sisting of  seventy  or  eighty  ladies  and  gentlemen.  The  entertainment 
is  described  by  those  present  as  a  perfect  one  in  all  respects.  On  the 
removal  of  the  cloth,  fac-simile  models  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rail- 
road depots  at  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis,  wrought  in  confectionary,  were 
placed  at  either  end  of  the  table,  at  which  the  host  of  the  evening  pre- 
sided. Presently  a  whistle  sounded,  a  bell  rang,  and  oif  went  a  minia- 
ture train  of  cars  like  a  flash  down  the  table,  amid  the  delighted 
plaudits  of  the  party,  for  whose  benefit  the  trip  was  repeated  several 
times.  The  locomotive  "Charles  Gould,"  the  tender,  cars,  depot — 
every  thing  except  the  track  was  of  ingenious  confectionary. 

No  formal  speeches  were  made  or  designed  ;  but  Mr.  Gould,  Avith 
infinite  tact,  drew  from  each  note-worthy  guest  Avhatever  oflf-liand 
contribution  to  the  general  enjoyment  he  might  happen  to  have  at  in- 
stant command.  Thus  he  told  a  good  story  for  Governor  "Tom" 
Corwin,  who  returned  the  compliment,  by  telling  another,  in  his  own 
inimitable  style,  for  liimself.  The  Venerable  Gov.  Reynolds,  of  Illi- 
nois, was  skilfully  drawn  out,  and  gave  an  agreeable  flavor  to  the 
Union- saving  remarks  of  most  of  the  speakers,  by  well-timed  allusions 
to  the  ladies.  Judge  Lee,  of  Baltimore,  and  Judge  Storer,  of  Cincin- 
nati, followed.  Mr.  Charles  Anderson,  of  Cincinnati,  also  made  a 
c.ipital  after-dinner  speech,  full  of  humor  and  hearty  enthusiasm — as 
thoroughly  western  as  the  prairies  over  which  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi Railroad  lies. 

Hon,  George  Bancroft,  the  distinguished  diplomatist  and  historian 
of  the  United  States,  being  called  out  on  behalf  of  New  York,  pre- 
sented the  following  beautiful,  eloquent  and  truthful  word-painting  of 
the  enterprise,  whose  completion  the  human  tide  was  then  pouring 
westward  to  celebrate  : 

Ladies  and  Gentlejikn  :  "We  have  most  of  us  been  employing  the  day  in 
surveying  the  environs  of  Cincinnati,  wliere  the  beautiful  undulations  of  the 
countiy,  as  it  rises  above  the  rivers,  quicken  and  encourage  the  genuine  love 


ENTERTAINMENT, HON.    GEORGE    BANCROFT'S    SPEECH.        215 

of  nature,  and  the  unvarying  richness  of  the  soil  generously  rewards  the  care 
which  it  receives.  We  have  found  that  the  buckeye  leaf  is  the  fit  emblem  of 
its  people,  for  it  is  the  semblance  of  the  open  hand,  ready  to  give  to  those  who 
need — to  grasp  the  hand  of  a  friend — to  welcome  the  stranger  to  hospitality. 
The  great  West  itself,  uncontrolled  by  precedents  in  the  daring  of  its  enter- 
prise, and  unequalled  in  the  greatness  of  its  achievements,  is  yet  the  child  of 
the  past.  Freedom  of  industry  and  freedom  of  mind  were  the  great  ideas  of 
the  eighteenth  century  ;  here  you  behold  their  fruits. 

Our  course  to  this  city  has  been  by  the  way  of  the  thrice  admirable  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad.  The  scenery  through  which  it  makes  its  way  has 
a  character  of  grandeur  of  its  own,  and  in  the  wonderful  varieties  of  forest  and 
lawn,  of  river  and  mountain,  of  nature  in  her  savage  wildness  and  nature  in 
her  loveliest  forms,  presents  a  series  of  pictures  which  no  well  educated  Amer- 
ican should  willingly  leave  unvisited.  We  cross  the  Atlantic  in  quest  of  at-, 
tractive  scenes;  and  lo  !  we  have  at  home,  alongside  of  the  great  central  iron 
pathway,  views  that  excel  any  thing  that  can  be  seen  among  the  mountains 
of  Scotland,  or  ia  the  passes  of  the  Apennines. 

Then  the  enterprise  which  achieved  this  great  result  is  so  admirable,  as  to 
excite  our  wonder  that  what  seemed  impossible  has  been  finished.  This  great 
work  is  emphatically  the  work  of  the  City  of  Baltimore,  and  it  may  almost  be 
said  of  Baltimore  alone,  for  it  was  carried  on  without  much  favor  from  its 
own  State,  and  sometimes  in  conflict  with  the  rivalry  of  its  neighbors.  Nor  is 
this  all  the  mar\'el.  The  work  in  its  completeness  has  cost  more  than 
§31,000,000,  and  was  entered  upon  with  a  brave  heart,  and  at  a  time  when 
the  entire  valuation  of  the  real  and  personal  property  of  Baltimore  was  less 
than  §27,000,000.  But  Baltimore  was  always  brave.  In  the  gloomiest  hour 
of  the  American  Revolution  her  voice  of  patriotism  was  loud  and  clear — her 
conduct  an  example  to  sister  cities  ;  and  when  has  she  ever  been  wanting  to 
the  cause  of  civil  and  religious  freedom  ? 

Once  more  we  return  to  her  railroad,  and  say  it  is  unequalled  in  the  difii- 
cnlties  which  it  has  surmounted.  When  we  came  to  the  foot  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies  on  the  east,  we  all  saw  the  steepness  of  the  dividing  ridge  that  seemed 
impassable.  But  a  railroad  is  a  work  of  art.  Michael  Angelo  used  to  say 
that  all  the  forms  of  beauty  lie  hidden  beneath  the  surface  of  the  marble 
quarry,  waiting  only  for  the  hands  of  the  sculptor  to  call  them  into  being.  The 
eye  of  Latrobe  saw  at  a  glance  the  capacity  of  the  mountain,  and,  scoffing  at  the 
threatening  ravine,  and  precipices  and  lofty  summit,  gave  himself  no  rest  till 
commerce  had  carried  its  safe  and  easy  pathway  in  triumph  over  the  moun- 
tain top,  and  proved  to  the  world  that  there  are  no  difficulties  which  tnie  en- 
terprise cannot  surmount — that  nature  herself  is  in  league  with  genius. 

And  all  this  has  been  achieved  by  the  City  of  Baltimore,  while  she  is  still 
in  the  freslmess  and  intrepid  vigor  of  youth,  ^^'ll:it  must  be  her  future,  when 
such   is   her  beginning !     She  is  called  the    Monumental  City.     Her  column 


216  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    0PENIN6. 

rises  as  a  memorial  of  the  Father  of  his  Country ;  but  this  is  her  own  monu- 
ment. It  spans  the  Alleghanies  ;  it  reaches  from  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic  to 
the  bosom  of  the  Ohio  ;  it  commands  the  admiration  of  the  world. 

To-morrow,  and  the  day  after,  we  extead  our  course  to  the  farther  West ; 
we  celebrate  the  opening  of  the  direct  communication  between  Baltimore, 
Cincinnati,  and  St.  Louis.  The  occasion  is  one  of  national  interest.  The 
system  of  roads  binds  iudissolubly  the  East  and  the  West.  The  triad  of  cities 
■which  are  the  fortresses  of  the  U  nion — the  breakwaters  against  which  the 
angry  waves  of  sedition  shall  dash  only  to  be  driven  back — are  now  but  as  one 
in  commerce  and  culture,  in  the  arts  of  life  and  the  enjoyment  of  society,  in 
enterprise  and  love  of  country.  How  ■would  Madison — who  loved  the  Union 
with  such  singleness  of  affection  that  after  death  the  word  might  have  been 
found  imprinted  on  his  heart — how  would  Madison  have  been  gladdened  could 
he  have  lived  to  see  these  days !  And  Washington — who,  when  he  last  came 
to  the  West,  crossed  the  mountain  by  fatigue  marches,  bivouaclcing  in  the  ■wil- 
derness, and  then  slowly  paddling  his  way  on  the  Ohio — how  would  he  have 
exulted,  could  he  but  have  seen  his  great  and  cherished  idea  of  an  international 
highway  carried  out  with  a  perfection  and  convenience  which  surpassed  the 
power  of  his  century  to  imagine  !  Here  Young  America  is  fulfilling  that  des- 
tiny which  her  fathers  manifestly  designed  for  her  ;  she  more  and  more  sub- 
dues nature  and  gives  freedom  to  men.  Under  her  influence  the  world  will  be 
united  in  peace  and  commerce,  and  liberty  be  owned  as  the  birthright  of  every 
nation  of  the  earth. 

The  night  of  the  3d  of  June — the  day  on  ■which  the  great  body  of 
the  excursionists  arrived  at  the  Queeu  City^— was  appropriated  to  a 
grand  fasliionable  ball  at  the  Burnet  House.  The  occasion  was  an  ex- 
ceedingly brilliant  and  agreeable  one,  and  much  enjoyed  by  the  com- 
pany present,  consisting  of  about  five  hnndi'ed  persons,  including  many 
distinguished  gentlemen  from  every  section  of  the  Union,  and  a  rare 
array  of  ladies,  mostly  from  Xew  York,  and  otlier  eastern  cities.  The 
dancing  was  kept  up  until  after  midniglit,  when  an  elegant  and  boun- 
tiful supper  was  served  in  the  great  dining  liall,  by  Mr.  Coleman,  the 
generous  host.  Tluis  closed  the  chief  events  in  the  fete  at  Cin- 
cinnati. 


A  VIEW  UPON  THE  OHIO  &  MISSISSIPPI  R.  R. 

Looking  East,  near  Lawrencebubg,  some  20  Miles  from  Cincinnati,  with 
THE  Ohio  River  and  Whitewater  Canal. 


A   VIEW  UPON 

THE  OHIO  k  MISSISSIPPI  RAILROAD, 

0.\  THE  Ba.\ks  ok  the  Whitewater  River. 


A   MEW  ON  THE  OHIO  4    MISSISSIPPI  R   h 

BEINT    THE   >-lBfeT\\IIAL 

BRIDGE  OVER  TEIE  WABASH, 

^T    VlNCEVNF.S. 


RELIC  OF  THK  GREAT  CELEBRATION", 

Being  the  Remains  of  the  Ticket  of  Mr.  Artist  Hitchcock,  of  New  York, 
WHO  MADE  Pictorial  Sketches  of  the  Trip  for  IIaupers"  Weekly. 


THE 

RAILWAY    Cf]LEBRATIONS   OF    1857. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

THE    EXCURSION  TRIP    FROM  CINCINNATI  TO  ST.  LOUIS— THE  OHIO 
AND  MISSISSIPPI  RAILWAY. 

The  grand  opening  excursion  over  the  Oliio  and  Missi.^sippi  Rail- 
road was  set  down  for  Tlinrsday,  the  4tli  of  June ;  but,  in  order  to 
avoid  the  rush  of  tlie  ci'owd,  many  of  the  guests  started  for  St.  Louis 
on  the  preceding  evening.  Still  the  number  remaining  of  the  large 
party  concentrated  at  Cincinnati  was  immense,  and  it  was  deemed 
quite  impossible  to  carry  all  over  the  road  in  one  day,  for  want  of 
sufficient  passenger  coaches  to  meet  the  extraordinary  demand.  For- 
tunately very  many  preferred  retnaining  behind  a  few  hours,  in  order 
to  obtain  needed  rest,  or  to  see  a  little  more  of  the  city. 

Provision  was  made  to  carry  about  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  pas- 
sengers, who  started  at  six  o'clock  on  Thursday  morning,  in  two 
trains — the  first  containing  the  City  Councils  of  Baltimore  and 
Cincinnati,  the  principal  municipal  officers  of  Marietta  and  Chillicothe, 
a  portion  of  the  detective  police  of  Cincinnati,  a  large  number  of  la- 
dies, and  the  representatives  of  the  press,  of  whom  there  were  about 
fifr\^  [)resent.  This  first  train  consisted  often  passenger  cars,  and 
tlie  second  of  eight  cars.  Gen.  Cass  having  determined  to  visit  his 
home,  at  Detroit,  did  not  go  on  to  St.  Louis  ;  and  M.  Sartiges  also  re- 
mained behind  for  a  day.  The  cars  and  engines  were  handsomely 
decorated,  making  a  showy  appearance  as  they  dashed  over  the  road. 
The  rear  car  of  the  first  train,  in  which  were  the  families  of  the  direc- 
tors of  the  road,  seemed  something  new  in  the  history  of  railroad 
travelling.  It  was  fitted  up  in  four  compartiuents,  in  each  of  which 
were  two  sofas,  each  sofa  seating  two  persons,  and  being  capable  of 
transformation  into  berths  for  tlie  same  number.  Several  ordinary 
|0 


218  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

car  chairs  in  addition  made  the  numerical  accommodations  about  one- 
third  as  large  as  those  of  ordinary  cars.  There  were  also  a  wash-room 
and  toilet  table  in  the  car,  and  a  patent  heating  furnace,  wliich  had 
the  faculty  of  keeping  out  the  dust  and  of  cooling  the  air.  With  rich 
upholstery  and  elegant  painting,  these  characteristics  made  the  car  one 
of  extraordinary  comfort  for  the  traveller  who  was  so  fortunate  as  to 
secure  one  of  its  seats.  Shortly  after  six  o'clock,  we  got  well  under 
way,  and  were  whirled  along  at  a  rapid  rate  for  about  fifteen  miles, 
when  just  as  we  came  opposite  the  old  homestead  of  General  Harri- 
son, at  North  Bend,  the  pumps  of  the  engine  gave  out,  and  a  detention 
of  over  half  an  hour  was  the  consequence.  This  gave  the  party  an 
excellent  opportunity  of  viewing  the  ancient  residence  of  "  Old  Tip." 
It  is  a  plain,  republican  frame  house,  two  stories  high,  with  wings  of 
one  story  attached.  It  is  much  weather-beaten,  and  the  white  paint 
which  once  made  its  front  glow  in  bright  contrast  with  the  green  fo- 
liage of  the  venerable  trees  around  it,  looks  pale  and  bluish.  It  is 
inhabited  by  the  old  soldier's  widow.  A  few  hundred  yards  distant, 
on  a  green  and  wooded  slope,  stands  a  simply  arranged  tomb,  which 
holds  the  ashes  of  the  hero  of  Tippecanoe. 

The  Ohio  River  monopolized  the  attention  of  the  traveller  for 
nearly  twenty  miles,  the  railroad  being  built  right  upon  its  bank,  and 
between  it  and  a  range  of  low  hills  to  the  north  or  west  of  the  stream. 
This  narrow  strip  of  level  land  is  exceedingly  rich,  covered  with  beau- 
tiful gardens,  from  which  rise  many  neat  and  tasteful  gardeners'  cot- 
tages, presenting  an  agreeable  ])icture  of  prosperous  and  contented  in- 
dustry. On  the  steep  sides  of  the  hills  which  rise  backward  from  this 
garden  strip,  cling  the  vineyards  to  which  we  are  indebted  for  the 
Catawba  wines.  Across  the  river,  rise  the  Kentucky  hills,  green  and 
grand,  dotted  and  decorated  by  country  residences  which  seem  to 
alFect  stateliness  and  dignity,  when  compared  with  their  more  modest 
and  unobtrusive  neighbors  on  the  Ohio  banks. 

General  surprise  was  expressed  by  the  guests  at  finding  the  Eail- 
road  track  so  smooth  and  equal,  taking  into  consideration  the  sht)rt 
time  since  it  was  comj)leted.  Its  broad  gauge,  and  commodious  well- 
furnished  cars,  together  witli  the  fine  scenery  of  the  route,  render  it 
a  most  delightful  road  to  travel  over.  Every  precantion  had  been 
taken  to  render  the  trip  a  safe  and  pleasant  one.  Extra  locomotives 
were  passed  at  convenient  points  along  the  line,  with  steam  up  and 
fretting  to  be  free,  ready  to  take  the  place  of  any  that  should  be  dis- 
abled; and  flagmen  were  distributed  at  intervals  of  a  mile,  to  watch 


THE    EXCURSION  TRIP    FROM    CINCIXXATI    TO    ST.    LOUIS.         219 

the  track  clof^el}-,  and  signalize  tlie  trains  siiould  danger  of  any  sort 
present  itself.  Refreshments  Avere  freely  supplied  in  the  cars,— and 
the  cold  ciiicken,  ice-cream,  and  sparkling  catawba,  were  found  par- 
ticularly grateful  after  the  hurried  breakfast  incidental  to  an  early 
morning  start. 

Along  the  entire  length  of  the  line  a  jubilant  feeling  seemed  to 
exist  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants,  and  the  road  at  the  different  sta- 
tions Avas  thronged  with  men,  women,  and  children.  In  several 
places  the  passing  trains  were  saluted  with  discharges  of  cannon,  and 
similar  demonstrations.  At  Aurora,  we  left  the  Ohio  River,  and 
turned  into  the  St.ite  of  Indiana,  through  the  immense  forests  of  which 
we  progressed  for  some  hours.  Vast  beech  and  ash  forests,  stiff  clay 
soil,  small  dwellings,  an  occasional  small  village,  all  having  a  rough 
look  of  newness,  and  barren  of  beauty  or  comfort.  Much  of  the  land 
is  a  swamp,  the  ground  covered  with  gigantic  trunks  of  fallen  trees,  in 
all  stages  of  decay.  Occasionally  a  road,  some  of  them  planked,  all 
running  North  and  South  or  East  and  West,  opened  a  long  vista 
through  the  forest.  Wherever  cultivated,  the  soil  seems  very  black 
and  rich,  the  wheat  good,  standing  up  straight  among  the  bleached 
trunks  of  the  girdled  trees. 

The  Big  Miami  River  was  crossed  by  a  beautiful  bridge  twenty 
miles  out,  and  about  a  mile  further  on  the  Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati 
railroad  was  crossed,  both  roads  here  running  on  a  level  ])lain.  There 
are  stations  every  half  dozen  miles  along  the  route,  but  our  train 
stopped  only  at  the  most  important  ones.  At  North  Vernon,  73 
miles  from  Cincinnati,  the  road  crosses  the  Madison  and  Indianapolis 
railro;d,  and  at  Seymour  about  1-i  miles  further  on  the  Jeffersonviile 
and  Indianapolis  railroad.  Within  a  distance  of  sixty  miles  the  r  id 
crosses  the  White  River,  quite  a  wide  stream,  four  times,  by  as  many 
substantially  built  bridges. 

Continuing  on  our  way,  we  arrived  in  due  time  at  Fort  Ritner,  In- 
diana, a  station  named  for  one  of  the  engineers  of  the  road,  113  miles 
from  Cincinnati.  Here  we  were  overtaken  by  the  second  train,  and 
partook  of  a  bountiful  cold  collation,  with  coffee,  in  the  unfini.-ihed 
station-house.  Proceeding  on,  no  notable  incident  occurred  until  we 
arrived  at  Mitchell,  13  miles  farther.  At  this  place,  a  large  number 
of  citizens  greeted  our  arrival  witli  repeated  cheers,  and  a  band  per- 
formed inspiriting  music  as  we  passed.  Mitchell  is  named  for  Prof. 
O.  M.  Mitchell  of  Cincinnati,  to  whom,  as  much  as  to  any  other  .me 
man,  is  due  the  honor  of  bringing   this  railroad  to  completion.     His 


220  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

faith  in  the  feasibility  of  the  enterprise,  was  evinced  in  such  works  as 
few  men  would  have  undertaken.  Through  his  zealous  instrumen- 
tality were  procured  the  foreign  loans,  without  which  the  work 
could  never  have  been  completed.  Near  this  point  are  two  caves, 
called  Hamor's  and  Linn's  caves.  From  the  mouth  of  the  former 
issues  Lost  River,  which  passes  to  this  outlet  for  many  miles  under  the 
ground.  About  the  centre  of  the  State,  we  come  to  a  region  of  coun- 
try that  seems  to  be  longer  settled,  the  farms  being  clear  of  stumps 
and  well  tilled,  and  the  buildings  good  and  large. 

The  ancient  city  of  Viucennes,  Indiana,  on  the  "VTabash  River,  192 
miles  from  Cincinnati,  and  the  "  half-way  house"  between  Cincinnati 
and  St.  Louis,  was  reached  about  3  o'clock.  A  heavy  rain  was  falling 
at  the  time,  but  great  numbers  of  the  citizens  were  out  to  receive  the 
train.  Flags  were  displayed  from  many  of  the  buildings,  and  the  roar  of 
cannon  announced  the  occurrence  of  an  unusual  event.  Here  a  splen- 
did dinner  had  been  provided  for  the  tourists  by  the  citizens,  under 
the  management  of  the  ladies — a  jtortion  of  the  tables  being  set  under 
the  trees  where  Gen.  Harrison  made  his  celebrated  treaty  with  Te- 
cuinseh.  Every  thing  in  the  shape  of  eatables,  that  an  epicure  would 
desire,  or  that  a  noble  effort  to  furnish  an  unrivalled  repast  could  pro- 
cure, was  there  in  bountiful  profusion.  There  was  also  no  lack  of 
generous  wine.  The  welcome  extended  by  the  citizens  of  Vincennes 
was  in  all  respects  hearty  and  enthusiastic.  Toasts  and  speeches  nat- 
urally follow  champagne ;  so  a  number  of  the  former  were  soon  offered, 
complimentary  of  the  railroad  and  its  managers,  and  speeches  were 
made  by  Judge  Ellis,  of  Vincennes,  and  Judge  Lee,  of  Baltimore. 
While  this  was  going  on  within  the  building,  the  outsiders  were  not 
forgotten — long  tables  were  spread  under  teniporary  sheds,  at  which 
the  citizens  of  Vincennes  and  many  of  those  who  have  so  successfully 
lalxired  in  completing  the  road,  partook  of  a  substantial  repast. 

The  shrill  whistle  of  the  locomotive  again  summoned  the  party  to 
the  train  The  new  portion  of  the  road  having  been  passed  over,  the 
double  locomotives  were  here  dispensed  with,  and  two  new  and  beau- 
tiful iron  steeds  took  their  places,  one  to  each  train.  Tiiey  bore  the 
significant  names  of  "  San  Francisco"  and  "  Sacramento."  The  en- 
terprising young  engine  man,  in  charge  of  the  former,  i)redicted  that, 
ere  he  closed  his  engineering  career,  he  would  have  tlie  honor  of  run- 
ning liis  locomotive  across  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the  Golden 
city  of  the  Pacific. 

Leaving  Vincennes,  we  immediately  crossed  tlie  Wabash  River  on 


THE    EXCUKSIOX    TRIP    FROM    CINCINNATI    TO    ST,   LOUIS.  2'21 

a  large  and  splendid  wooden  bridge,  bnilt  on  the  McCallnm  plan,  and 
entered  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  ■welcomed  to  its  soil  by  ex-Governor 
Reynolds  of  that  State.  After  crossing  the  flat  prairie  bottom,  we  en- 
tered upon  the  broad  prairies,  and  for  mile  after  mile  flew  on  without 
meeting  an  acre  of  rolling  ground,  and  nothing  like  a  tree.  Many  fine 
dwellings,  however,  were  passed  on  the  prairie,  and  extensive  herds  of 
cattle  were  seen  grazing  on  the  fertile  plains. 

We  crossed  the  Little  Wabash  River  about  240  miles  from  Cincin- 
nati, the  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Odin,  275  miles 
out,  and  the  main  line  of  the  Central  road  at  Sandoval,  four  miles  fur- 
ther on.  At  Carlyle,  a  few  miles  beyond,  the  Kaskaskia  River  is 
passed  by  means  of  a  handsome  bridge,  and  at  Casey  ville,  nine  miles 
from  St.  Louis,  the  train  reached  the  American  Bottom,  a  large  tract 
of  low  land  that  is  occasionally  overflowed,  which  probably  gave  the 
name  of  Egypt  to  the  lower  portion  of  this  State.  The  passage  through 
this  region  was  mostly  in  the  night,  but  the  Egyptians  Avere  wide  awake. 
Houses  were  illuminated  at  the  various  towns,  wherever  they  had 
candles,  and  where  they  had  not,  tar  barrels  were  burned  instead. 
The  inhabitants  seemed  to  have  turned  out  en  masse,  men,  women, 
and  children,  including  babies. 

No  peofile  have  more  cause  to  rejoice  at  the  completion  of  this 
railroad  enterprise,  which  opens  to  valuable  markets  a  large  extent  of 
country  hitherto  almost  valueless,  although  possessing  the  richest  soil 
on  the  continent.  Indeed,  the  soil  for  a  hundred  miles  of  our  course 
over  the  prairie,  scarce  had  seen  a  plough  until  since  the  road  between 
Cincinnati  and  Vinceunes  was  opened.  Now,  the  country  is  compar- 
atively thicklj'  settled,  and  the  land,  which  four  years  ago  was  much 
of  it  quite  unsalable,  readily  brings  from  five  to  fifteen  dollars  per 
acre.  Indeed,  nearly  all  the  way  from  Vincennes  to  the  Mississi|)i)i, 
the  country  was  one  never  wearying  monotony  of  living  green,  rich, 
deep,  and  dark.  Never  was  a  finer  country  seen,  than  tliat  succession 
of  long,  level  prairies,  between  St  Louis  and  Vincennes ;  and  never 
did  those  prairies  appear  more  beautiful  and  gladdening  than  when 
our  party  looked  upon  thtin,  waving  and  swaying  their  wealth  ot 
emerald,  soon  to  yellow  into  a  richer  wealth  of  golden  grain. 

As  a  summary  description  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  we 
introduce  the  following  letter  published  in  the  financial  columns  of  the 
A^CMJ  Yo7'k  Laily  Times,  the  signature  to  which  fixes  its  authorsliip 
upon  Mr.  Simonton,  the  well-known  special  Washington  corre- 
spondent of  that  journal : 


222  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 


THE  GREAT  RAILWAY  OPENING. 

St.  Louis,  Sunday,  June  7,  1S57. 
Dear  Sir  : — The  new.spapers  will  fiiniish  you,  through  their  general  cor- 
respondence, abundant  accounts  of  the  festivities  marking  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi Railroad  opening.  Upon  that  score  I  could  add  nothing.  Perhaps, 
however,  you  would  like  to  hear,  from  one  who  has  no  individual  interests  to 
warp  or  color  his  judgment,  some  suggestions  as  to  the  advantages  of  this 
great  work  in  point  of  location ;  in  relation  to  the  character  of  its  construction, 
its  probable  diirability,  cost  of  working  and  repairs,  and  its  prospect  of  devel- 
oping a  valuable  way -business  in  both  passengers  and  freight.  Upon  all  these 
points  I  am  free  to  say  that  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  road  will  compare  most 
favorably  with  any  in  the  United  States  over  which  I  have  travelled, — and  I 
am  quite  familiar  with  the  principal  railroad  Knes  in  the  Northern,  Eastern 
Middle,  and  North-western  States.  Of  course  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  the 
travel  and  traffic  over  this  road  are  to  become  immediately  as  great  as  over  any 
other;  but  I  do  mean  that  it  passes  through  a  country  so  fertile,  and  brings 
into  prompt  and  the  most  direct  communication  points  of  such  great  commer- 
cial importance,  that  their  speedy  development  under  the  stimulus  and  encour- 
agement of  this  railroad  enterprise,  is  an  inevitable  necessitj-,  carrying  with 
it  a  cai-eer  of  prosperity  in  the  i'uture  for  the  road  itself,  which  can  scarcely  be 
over-estimated. 

The  road  between  this  point  and  Vincennes,  Indiana,  has  been  in  operation 
for  some  time,  and  its  advantages  you  probably  know  all  about.  It  passes  in 
an  almost  air-line  over  beautiful  rolling  prairies,  plentifully  interspersed  with 
groves  of  timber,  and  watered  hy  many  small  streams.  Between  Cincinnati 
and  Seymour,  also,  the  road  is  not  altogether  new.  Here  it  winds  its  way 
along  the  margin  of  some  rather  crooked  rivers,  but  the  curves  are  easy,  and 
generally  the  grades  are  light.  Everywhere  the  land  over  whicli  it  passes  is 
exceedingly  fertile,  holding  out  irresistible  invitations  to  its  speedy  cultivation 
and  development.  Tliis  is  true  of  nearly  every  mile  of  the  route.  Scarce  an 
acre  not  easily  susceptible  of  improvement  is  visible,  if  we  except  those  covered 
by  forests,  the  timber  in  which  is  valuable,  and  must  furnish  profitable  employ- 
ment I'or  an  army  of  industrious  woodsmen.  Indeed  there  is  no  comparison 
between  Northern  Indiana  and  the  southern  portion  of  the  State,  traversed  by 
this  road,  so  much  does  the  latter  surpass  the  former;  and  when  the  "Egypt" 
of  Illinois  shall  be  developed  by  the  population  sure  to  follow  in  the  trade  of 
the  locomotive,  the  boastful  counties  comprising  the  northern  tier  will  need 
look  to  their  laurels. 

From  Seymour  to  Vincennes — a  hundred  miles  or  more — the  road  is  new. 
Here  we  expected  to  dance  by  car-loads  to  the  music  of  the  steam-whistle,  as 
we  were  whirled  along  over  a  rough  and  uneven  track.     Never  were  we  more 


THE    EXCUKSIOX    TRIP    FKOM    CINCINNATI    TO    ST.    LOUIS.  22:^ 

disappointed.  Although  the  road  is  but  partially  ballasted,  the  universal  testi- 
mony is  that  the  running  was  smoother,  steadier,  and  freer  from  joltimr  tliaii 
that  over  the  New  Jersey  and  Camden  and  Amboy  Railroads,  long  as  the 
latter  have  been  worked.  Tliis  is  owing  in  part,  doubtless,  to  the  broad  gaiice 
adopted  by  the  Ohio  and  Mississipi  Company,  but  it  is  due  still  more  to  the 
great  care  which  has  been  taken  in  grading  and  solidifying  the  road-bed,  in 
laying  the  track,  and  in  the  firm  elasticity  of  the  material  of  which  the  bed  is 
composed.  It  is  not  often  that  these  qualities  of  solidity  and  elasticity  are  so 
admirably  combined.  A  very  small  proportion  of  trestle  work  has  been  found 
necessarj'  throughout  the  entire  line  of  this  road, — the  bridges  are  not  nu- 
merous, but  veiy  substantial,  and  the  constiuction  in  all  respects  gives  promise 
of  great  durability  and  very  moderate  cost  for  repairs,  as  there  is  little  oppor- 
tunity for  land-slides,  washing  away  of  the  road-bed,  or  any  of  the  other  ac- 
cidental incidents  which  often  enhance  so  largely  the  cost  of  keeping  a  road  in 
order.  It  will  readily  he  seen  that  the  advantages  enumerated — light  gi'ades, 
easy  cur\-es,  long  stretches  of  straight  track,  solidity  of  the  road-bed,  and 
Don- liability  to  suffer  from  rains  or  floods — combine  to  promise  a  cost  of  work> 
ing  the  road  rather  below  than  above  the  average.  Fuel  is  abundant  and 
cheap, — to  be  had  indeed  in  any  quantity  for  the  cost  of  cutting.  Already 
the  sti-eam  of  paying  travel  begins  to  pour  through  this  avenue  of  communica- 
tion just  opened  between  the  Atlantic  seaboard  and  the  Mississippi, — and  all 
along  its  line  the  farmers  are  anxiously  awaiting  the  hour  when  they  can 
transport  their  produce  over  it,  and  receive  the  supplies  of  light  lumber  and 
other  staples  required  from  abroad.  Perhaps  you  may  deem  me  enthusiastic 
in  my  depiction.  If  so,  I  can  only  answer  that  I  have  e.xpressed,  in  terms 
quite  inadequate,  the  general  and  spontaneous  convictions  of  myself  and  fellow- 
travellers,  who  kept  our  eyes  open  in  going  over  the  road  for  the  express  pur- 
pose of  learning  its  character  and  judging  of  its  probable  future.  I  know 
nothing  personally  of  its  managers,  save  their  liberality  towards  their  guests 
upon  this  festive  celebration ;  but  if  the  affairs  of  the  company  are  conducted 
with  any  thing  approaching  the  skill  and  prudence  whicli  we  may  expect  from 
those  who  had  the  entei-prise  to  carry  so  great  a  work  to  completion,  I  shall 
relv  with  entire  confidence  upon  the  not  distant  future  to  vindicate  every  word 
that  I  have  here  written. 

In  closing  let  me  add  a  tribute  to  the  management  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Kailroad,  over  which  I  have  frequently  passed,  and  always  with  new 
pleasure.  It  would  be  difficult  to  say  any  thing  novel  of  it, — for  the  fame  of 
its  grand  scenery,  and  of  the  engineering  triumphs  it  illustrates  in  climbing 
and  crossing  the  Alleghanies  is  world-wide.  Its  line  is  completed  at  last  by 
the  opening  of  the  branch  road  from  Grafton  to  Parkersburg,  Va. — a  road 
which,  instead  of  threading  the  valleys  and  winding  a  devious  way  around 
the  spurs  of  the  mountain,  strikes  boldly  across  the  ridges,  dives  through 


2'2  1  GREAT    OFIIO    A>"D    MISSISSIPPI    KAILKOAD    OPENING, 

cotmtless  tunnelled  hills,  and  opens  up  a  rugged  country  as  rich  in  mineral 
resources,  probably,  as  any  east  of  the  Ohio  River.  Throughout  the  entire 
line  and  branches  the  raangement  is  as  nearly  perfect  as  can  be.  Certainly, 
regularity,  economy,  and  safety  are  everywhere  apparent  in  its  operations. 
Every  officer  seems  thoroughly  conversant  with  his  duty,  and  ready  to  dis- 
charge its  lightest  detail  with  unerring  fidelity ;  while  each  employe  is  engaged 
apparently  in  amiable  rivalry  to  emulate  the  example  thus  set  by  his  superior. 
But  my  letter  is  already  too  long  and  I  must  bring  it  abruptly  to  a  close. 

J.  W.  S. 

For  reason  already  stated,  a  large  number  of  the  excnrbionists  laid 
over  at  Cincinnati  one  day  instead  of  going  on  with  the  "  crowd.' 
These  took  the  regular  morning  express  train  from  Cincinnati,  on  Fri- 
day morning,  the  5th  of  June,  for  St.  Louis.  Nine  large  passenger- 
cars  were  filled  to  thoir  utmost  capacity  with  the  railroad  guests,  and 
a  fair  sprinkling  of  travellers  wlio  did  not  belong  to  the  excursion 
party.  The  two  rear  cars  of  the  train  were  appropriated  to  the  lady 
excursionists  Avith  their  "  protectors,"  members  of  the  press,  and  va- 
rious dignitaries.  Among  the  latter  was  Senator  Donglas,  of  Illinois, 
who  had  arrived  at  Cincinnati  on  the  preceding  evening,  accompanied 
by  his  beautiful  and  accomplished  bride. 

The  events  of  the  day  were  not  important,  except  in  some  delays 
on  the  roadway,  caused  by  trifling  accidents  to  the  locomotives,  and  a 
dearth  of  provisions  altogether  inconsii-tent  with  the  appetizing  eifects 
of  a  day's  travel.  At  Fort  Ritner,  the  train  halted  for  lunch,  and  not 
less  than  eight  hundred  hungry  passengers  "  broke"  for  the  unfinished 
station  house,  whence  the  evidences  of  culinary  preparation  were 
rising  in  savory  steaujing  clouds.  Never  was  fort  charged  more  vigor- 
ously, but  only  a  small  portion  of  the  conquerors  succeeded  in  appro- 
priating a  share  of  its  spoil.  An  excellent  and  substantial  dinner  liad 
been  set  for  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  persons,  and  here  were  more 
tlian  five  times  that  number  anxious  to  be  provided  for.  The  short- 
coming was  unavoidable.  The  immense  throng  of  the  day  before  Iiad 
feasted  magnificently,  eating  up  every  thing,  leaving  the  "  fort "  as 
des-titute  as  an  Egyptian  field  after  the  locust  plague— and  the  parties 
in  charge  of  the  dining-rooms  had  no  anticipation  of  any  further  ex- 
traordinary calls,  until  quite  too  late  to  gather  in  the  needed  supplies. 
However,  the  company  took  their  disappointment  good-naturedly. 
Those  who  failed  of  a  seat  at  the  table,  satisfied  themselves  with  a 
distant  view  of  its  tempting  viands,  a  glass  of  milk  or  of  hot  coffee,  at 
the  back  kitchen-door,  or,  where  even  these  could  not  be  obtained,  a 


THE    EXCUHSION    TRIP    FIIOM    CINCINNATI    TO    ST,  LOTIS.         225 

draiiglit  of  cool  water  from  tlio  "  old  oaken  bucket,"  at  the  well-curb. 
Consoliug  themselves  with  the  expectation  of  a  good  supper  at  an 
early  hour,  the  passengers  betook  themselves  to  the  cars,  in  excellent 
Immor  for  hungry  folk,  and  were  soon  steaming  away  again  over  the 
road. 

As  the  train  apiiroached  the  Illinois  State  Line,  it  was  brought  to 
a  stand-still  in  the  midst  of  a  lieavy  forest  by  the  breakage  of  a  mas- 
sive cross-bar  sustaining  the  cow-catcher  or  "fender,"  in  front  of  the 
engine.  The  latter  was  at  once  disconnected,  and  the  engine-man 
proceeded  with  it  to  some  point  ahead  for  repairs.  Meanwhile,  the 
passengers  very  generally  issued  from  the  cars  for  a  run  in  the  woods. 
Not  knowing  how  long  the  detention  might  last,  it  was  quickly  de- 
termined to  have  some  stump  speaking. 

After  ineffectual  calls  for  ''  Corry,"  "  Black,"  and  others,  the 
crowd  made  a  rush  for  the  car  containing  Senator  Douglas,  calling 
on  him  vociferously  for  a  speech.  An  impromptu  bridge  across  a 
ditch,  between  his  car  and  the  forest,  was  constructed  from  the  ma- 
terial of  a  neighboring  wood  pile,  and  Mr.  Douglas  passing  over  it, 
consented  to  answer  the  wishes  of  his  fellow-travellers. 

After  a  few  pertinent  remarks  npon  the  pleasures  of  the  trip,  the  Senator 
proceeded  with  a  relation  of  interesting  facts  in  reference  to  the  development 
of  the  ^Yest,  and  some  remarks  upon  tlie  agency  of  railroads  therein,  and  the 
absurd  notions  which,  until  recently,  prevailed  about  the  sterility  of  the  West. 
Among  other  facts  be  mentioned  that  when  a  commission  from  the  War  De- 
partment was  sent  to  the  ten-itory  of  Micliigan  (now  hah'  a  dozen  North-western 
States)  to  locate  soldiers'  bounty  lands,  on  "  lands  fit  for  cultivation,"  they 
reported  that  in  the  whole  territory  of  Michif)antkere  was  no  land  Jit  for  cultivation. 
And  so  the  commission  located  the  lands  in  Northern  Illinois,  which  causes  all 
the  trouble  they  have  there  about  titles  to  real  estate.  So,  too,  when  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi  were  reached,  and  their  fertility  was  established  be- 
yond question,  still  it  was  maintained  for  awhile  that  a  few  miles  "  west "  of 
the  river  the  great  wilderness  commenced,  wherein  there  was  no  single  foot  of 
land  on  which  man  or  beast  could  find  subsistence.  The  Senator  wisely  es- 
chewed politics  altogether,  but  told  some  funny  stories,  provoking  much  mer- 
riment, and  keeping  tlie  audience  in  good  humor  notwithstanding  their  deten- 
tion, lie  concluded  with  an  exhortation  to  a  general  interchange  of  sentiment 
among  gentlemen  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  called  out  Col.  Samuel 
W.  Black,  of  Pennsylvania. 

Col.  Black  mounted  a  stump  in  the  neighbbrhood,  and  was  greeted 
with  cheers.     His  predecessor  had  faced  the  crowd,  but  had  his  back 
10* 


226  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

to  the  cars,  in  wliich  most  of  the  ladies  were  still  seated.  The  Colonel 
reversed  this  order,  and  was  called  upon  to  turn  the  other  way.  He 
declined,  and  began  his  speech  by  saying : 

"  I  have  never  refused  to  face  the  ladies  yet,  and  least  of  all  shall  I  do  it 

here,  where  Mother  Nature 

Just  at  this  point  the  whistle  of  the  locomotive  was  heard,  and  the 
shouting,  laughing  crowd  ran  like  mad  to  the  car-steps,  and  the  speaker 
followed.     Nothing  further  of  note  occurred  ere  reaching  St.  Louis. 


TTEW  OF  ST.  LOUIS. 


o 


T  11  E 

RAILWAY    CELEBRATIONS   OF    1857. 


CHAPTER    X  IX. 

AKiaVAL  AT  THE  MISSISSIPPI— THE  RECEPTION  AND  CELEBRATION  AT 

ST.  LOL'IS. 

It  was  nearly  iniflniglit,  of  Thursday,  wlieu  the  regular  excursion 
train  reached  the  Mississippi  River,  at  Illinoistown,  directly  opposite 
St.  Louis ;  but  hundreds  of  pine  torches,  which  had  been  planted  in  the 
ground  on  each  side  of  the  track,  for  several  hundred  yards,  brilliantly 
illuminated  the  scene.  Our  arrival  was  instantly  announced  to  the 
citizens  across  the  stream  by  the  firing  of  cannon  from  the  bluflfs.  A 
great  concourse  of  people  had  crossed  to  the  Illinoistown  Station  to 
meet  the  excursionists,  and  greeted  them  with  lond  and  long  siiouts 
of  welcome.  The  Mayor  of  St.  Louis,  lion.  J.  W.  Wiiner,  welcomed 
the  strangers  in  the  following  remarks : 

The  agreeable  duty  has  been  assigned  me,  as  the  Executive  of  the  city  of 
St.  Louis,  to  extend  to  you  a  cordial  and  hearty  welcome  to  the  hospitalities 
of  our  city.  We  are  pleased  to  meet  you,  and  rejoice  that  this  occasion  has 
drawn  together  so  many  of  our  fellow-citizens  of  other  States,  who  will  have 
an  opportvuiity  of  seeing  and  talking  with  us — learning  who  we  are,  and  be- 
coming acquainted  with  the  commercial  and  other  features  of  our  city.  In 
their  name  I  extend  to  you  a  friendly  greeting. 

A  short  time  since  it  required  weeks  of  travel  by  the  best  modes  of  con- 
veyance to  communicate  with  you — now,  we  are  within  speaking  distance  as 
it  were,  and  our  various  interests,  then  supposed  to  be  antagonistic,  have  be- 
come mutual  and  common,  and  we  meet  not  as  contestants  for  our  particular 
localities,  but  as  friends — as  brothers  of  the  same  household,  feeling  and 
knowing  that  all  properly  directed  efiForts  made  for  the  advancement  of  any 
portion  of  our  country,  where  each  individual  may  reside,  will  prove  beneficial 
to  all.     As  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  we  are  not  unmindful  of  the  benefits  conferred 


228  GRKAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

upon  our  beloved  city  by  being  bound  to  you  by  bonds  of  iron,  and  we  trust 
that  those  ties  may  never  be  dissevered. 

I  -nnll  not  detain  you  longer  at  this  time,  and  will  close  by  again  extending 
to  you  a  hearty  welcome,  with  the  assurance  that  I  but  utter  the  earnest  sen- 
timents of  the  entire  community  of  my  fellow-citizens,  for  whom  I  am  now 
permitted  to  speak. 

Mayor  Pilcher,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  responded  on  behalf  of  the 
guests.     He  said : 

In  reply  to  your  hearty  welcome,  I  sincerely  thank  you.  We  accept  that 
welcome  rs  it  is  given,  in  all  sincerity.  Sir,  we  stand  upon  the  wonder- 
working machine  which  has  this  evening  borne  us  to  your  city,  and  which  is 
the  cause  of  the  festivities  of  this  occasion.  We  stand  upon  that  machine 
which  is  to  make  the  crooked  places  straight,  the  rough  places  smooth,  and 
the  wilderness  as  a  garden.  (Cheers.)  We  accept  as  official  members  of  the 
commimity  of  Louisville,  your  hearty,  cordial,  and  sincere  welcome,  and  we 
take  heart  to  follow  the  useful  example  which  you  have  set  to  us  in  the  noble 
railroad  you  have  here  before  us. 

At  present  I  stand  at  your  feet,  Mr.  Mayor,  but  we  hope  that  the  time  will 
come  when  om*  place  will  be  not  only  at  your  head  but  fully  by  your  side ; 
when  our  prosperity  shall  be  one,  and  we  shall  all  miite  to  the  glory  of  the 
nation,  knowing  neither  North,  South,  East,  or  West. 

I  return  for  your  hearty  welcome  the  sincere  thanks  of  Louisville,  and  I 
think  I  may  with  safety  say,  the  thanks  of  all  the  other  cities  who  are  now 
represented  around  you. 

Four  large  and  elegant  Mississippi  River  steamers, — the  "  Rein- 
deer," "Baltimore,"  "  Illinois,"  and  "Die  Vernon" — had  been  moored 
to  tlie  Levee  on  the  Illinois  side  of  the  river,  near  the  point  at  which 
the  cars  stopped.  These,  brilliantly  illuminated,  presented  a  very 
pretty  spectacle,  in  the  darkness  of  the  evening.  The  guests  were 
immediately  escorted  on  board,  and  provided  witli  state-rooms  for  the 
niglit.  In  a  few  minutes  a  sumptuous  supper  was  served  on  board  tlie 
boats,  to  which  amijle  justice  was  accorded  by  the  wearied  travellers, 
who  then  betook  themselves  to  rest.  During  the  night  the  St.  Louis- 
iana celebrated  the  occasion  by  plentiful  displays  of  fireworks,  of 
wliich  tlie  strangers,  who  cliose,  obtained  a  fine  view,  as  well  as  of  the 
great  city  across  the  river,  liglited  up  by  its  thousands  of  gas  burners, 
and  its  long  levee  brilliant  with  the  glare  of  torches,  Roman  candles, 
Grecian  fires,  or  other  ])yrotechnic  devices. 

The  nnH-ning  of  Friday,  the  15th  of  June,  opened  most  auspicious- 
Ij.     Tiie  sun  rose  in  a  cloudless  sky,  falling  upon  the  splendid  panora- 


ARRIVAL    AT    THE    MISSISSIPPI,    OPPOSITE    ST.    LOUIS.  229 

Ilia  stretclied  out  on  the  St.  Louis  side  of  tlie  river  iu  tlie  precise  lifj;ht 
best  adapted  to  give  effect  to  the  picture.  At  an  early  liour  tlie 
guests  were  astir,  and  after  a  few  minutes'  survey  of  the  scene,  were 
ushered  in  to  a  substantial  breakfast  on  board  the  boats,  which  had 
served  us  as  temporary  hotels. 

Breakfast  duly  discussed,  the  boats  cast  off  their  moorings,  and 
leaving  the  Illinois  shore  started  on  an  excursion  upon  the  Mississippi 
River.  Gracefully  and  majestically  they  breasted  the  rapid  current, 
and  swe  t  up  the  stream  with  music,  banners,  and  other  demonstra- 
tions of  a  gala  day.  The  purpose  of  the  excursion  was  to  give  the 
guests  a  daylight  view  of  the  city.  The  steamers  proceeded  up  the 
river  to  the  powder  mill  above  the  extreme  northern  limit  of  St.  Louis, 
and  then  turning  about  went  down  as  far  the  "  village"  of  Carondelet, 
now  the  extreme  southern  limit  of  the  great  city.  The  view  was  ex- 
ceedingly fine.  St.  Louis,  with  its  substantial  edifices,  public,  private, 
and  commercial;  its  numerous  church  spires;  many  and  extensive 
factories,  from  which  tall  columns  of  smoke  were  wending  their  way 
continually  towards  the  great  black  cloud  overhead ;  and  its  long 
levee  lined  for  miles  with  steamers,  and  piled  with  every  conceivable 
description  of  merchandise,  exacted  the  wondering  surprise  and  admi- 
ration of  all  who  thus  saw  it  for  the  first  time.  Though  less  inviting 
in  its  suburbs  tlian  some  other  AVestern  cities,  it  was  impossible  not  to 
see  that  it  is  destined  to  become  at  some  day,  as  famed  for  its  beauty 
as  it  is  already  for  its  wealth,  its  enterprise,  and  its  prosperity. 

Nine  o'clock  A.  M.  having  been  fixed  upon  for  the  landing  at  the 
cit}',  the  steamers  neared  their  berth  promptly  in  time.  The  Com- 
mitiees  of  Arrangement  had  prepared  and  issued  the  following 

ORDER  OF   CEREMONIES, 

to  be  observed  on  the  occasion  of  the  inauguration  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
Railroad. 

1st.  The  citizens  of  St.  Louis  are  recommended  to  observe  the  day  as  a 
holiday ;  that  all  banking  houses  and  places  of  business  be  closed,  and  the 
steamboats  at  the  levee  and  the  houses  on  the  levee  all  along  the  streets 
through  which  tlie  procession  will  pass,  be  appropriately  decorated  with  flags, 
branches  of  trees,  flowers,  <fec. 

2d.  At  eight  o'clock  the  Military  Committees,  the  Board  of  Aldermen, 
Fire  Companies,  the  Turners,  the  different  Associations  of  singers,  and  all  in- 
vited to  participate  in  the  celebration  will  assemble  on  the  levee,  where  the 
line  of  procession  will  be  formed  under  the  direction  of  the  Grand  Marshal. 

3d.  The  guests  having  breakfasted  on  the  boats,  at  nine  o'clock  the  boats 
wiU  leave  the  Illinois  shore  and  bring  the  guests  to   St.  Louis.     Durmg  the 


2  50  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    KAILaOAD    OPENING. 

time  of  crossing  the  river,  the  Missouri  Artillery  Company  will  fire  a  salute  of 
one  hundred  guns. 

4th.  A  sufficient  number  of  carriages  and  omnibuses  will  be  in  attendance 
at  the  levee  to  accommodate  the  guests  and  the  Committee  of  Arrangeme::ts. 

5th.  At  the  landing  the  guests  will  be  conducted  to  the  middle  of  a  hollow 
square,  formed  by  the  military  companies,  Mayor  and  City  Council,  and  the 
other  members  of  the  Committee  of  Reception. 

6th.  After  the  reception  the  guests  will  be  conducted  to  the  carriages 
through  an  espalier  formed  by  the  Turners. 

Jt  was  evident,  as  we  approached  tlie  lauding-place  designated,  at 
the  foot  of  Spruce  street,  tliat  order  No.  1  had  been  faithfully  ob- 
served,— for  the  levee  and  the  adjacent  streets,  as  far  as  could  be  seen, 
were  crowded  with  pei>ple,  and  the  boats  Avere  gayly  decorated  witli 
Hags  and  evergreens.  Bands  were  playing  along  tiie  line  of  procession 
awaiting  us,  cannon  roared  in  glorious  confusion,  and  the  crowd  upon 
the  levee  shouted  with  almost  delirious  enthusiasm.  Ever}'  body  en- 
tered into  the  spirit  of  the  occasion  with  a  heartiness  peculiarly  West- 
ern, each  conti'ibuting.  in  bis  own  independent  way,  to  the  general 
stock  of  enjoyment,  frolic,  and  furore. 

The  guests  were  received  at  the  landing-place  by  Mayor  "Wimer, 
Geo.  K.  Taylor,  President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  J.  Vogel, 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Delegates,  and  Alderman  Shore,  Mr.  Pome- 
roy,  and  others  of  the  Board  of  Delegates.  Thence  they  were  escorted 
to  the  carriages  in  waiting,  and  moved  forward  to  the  line  of  proces- 
sion forming  in  accordance  with  the  following  order,  which  had  been 
issued  for  the  occasion: — 

CELEBRATION 

OF    THE   OPENING  OF 

THE    OHIO    AND   MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD, 

BETWEEN  ST.  LOUIS  AND  CINCINNATI. 

ORDER   OF   PROCESSION. 

The  diflferent  military  companies,  fire  companies,  and  associations,  who 
purpose  joining  in  the  procession  on  the  above  occasion,  will  assemble  on  this 
Friday  morning,  5th  instant,  at  eight  o'clock  precisely,  the  right  resting  on  the 
comer  of  Second  and  Market  streets,  extending  east  to  Water  street,  thence  up 
Water  street,  west  side,  taking  their  position  in  the  Hue  in  the  following 
order : — 

1.  Companies  A  and  B,  St.  Louis  Grays,  forming  the  escort. 

2.  Guests  in  carriages. 

3.  National  Guards. 


THE    PROCESSION    THKOUGH    THE    CITV    OF    ST.  LOUIS.  231 

4.  The  Grand  Commander  of  the  Sons  of  Malta,  with  an  escort  of  ten 
members. 

5.  P'ire  Companies — Central,  Washington,  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  Liberty, 
PhcBiiix,  f'ranklui,  Mound,  Laclede,  and  ilook  and  Ladder  company. 

6.  Washington  Guards. 

7.  Missouri  Gymnastic  Society,  the  Turners,  Socialer  Ssenger  Cher,  St. 
Louis  Sffinger  Bund,  Gruetli  Yerein,  Concordia  Gesang  Verein,  and  other  as- 
sociations joining  hi  the  procession. 

8.  The  following  military  companies,  in  such  order  of  precedence  as  may 
be  arranged  by  Capt.  Almsteadt — St.  Louis  Mounted  Rifles,  ]\Iissouri  Dra- 
goons, Jlissouri  Light  Battery,  Missouri  Yagers,  and  Union  lliflemen. 

The  carriages  and  omnibuses  will  be  formed  by  the  Committee  on  Vehi- 
cles, on  Fourth  street,  south  of  Walnut,  and  will  be  ready  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Market  streets,  at  half  past  eight  o'clock,  to  receive  the  guests,  as 
soon  as  they  are  conducted  to  that  pouit. 

ROUTE  OF  PROCESSION. 

Up  Market  street  to  Fourth  street,  up  Fourth  to  Olive,  out  01i^'e  to  Elev- 
enth, up  Eleventh  to  Franklin  avenue,  out  Franklin  avenue  to  Grand  avenue, 
up  Grand  avenue  to  the  eastei-n  gate  of  the  Fair  Ground?. 

C.  KEEMLE,  Chief  Marshal. 

The  order  of  procession  was  strictly  carried  out.  It  is  but  just  to 
the  militarv  and  fire  department  to  say  that  they  made  an  exceedingly 
fine  appearance,  eliciting  many  flattering  compliments  trom  the  stranger 
visitors.  The  rain  of  the  previous  day  had  left  the  streets  in  a  very 
muddy  and  disagreeable  condition,  adding  much  to  the  discomforts  of 
the  long  and  weary  march  ;  but  the  escort  persevered  in  the  duty  as- 
signed it,  exhibiting  a  perfection  of  discipline  and  drill  most  com- 
mendable in  volunteer  corps. 

The  procession  was  several  miles  long,  and  it  was  over  two  hours 
before  the  rear  end  readied  the  Fair  Grounds.  Along  the  entire  route 
through  the  city,  the  houses  were  decorated  with  flags,  streamers,  gar- 
lands, and  wreaths,  and  the  roofs,  windows,  and  sidewalks  and  streets 
were  filled  with  people  dressed  in  holiday  attire.  The  tout  ensemble 
formed  a  scene  of  surpassing  gayety  and  splendor.  Amid  this  exciting 
pageant  the  ladies  of  the  "  Mound  City"  shone  with  resplendent  lustre 
as  they  waved  their  handkerchiefs,  and  smiled  a  pleasant  welcome  to 
the  guests. 

As  the  procession  moved  along,  salutes  of  artillery  pealed  forth, 
and  cheer  after  cheer  went  np  as  each  successive  coach  load  of  guests 
passed  by.  One  of  the  most  interesting  scenes,  and  at  the  same  time 
one  wiiicli  touched  the  stoutest  heart,  occurred  on  the  route.  As  the 
line   passed  along  a  remarkably  neat-looking  building,  enclosed  by  a 


282  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

fence,  the  walls  were  observed  to  be  lined  with  cleanly  dressed  men, 
women,  and  children;  as  the  band  of  the  Baltimore  guests  (the  Bines) 
passed,  they  played  a  plaintive  melody,  and  were  loudly  applauded  by 
the  clapping  of  hands,  waving  of  handkerchiefs,  &c.,  by  the  party ; 
but  when  many  of  them  turned  to  leave  their  posts,  they  wei'e  ob- 
served to  feel  their  way :  Ave  were  passing  the  Blind  Asylum.  This 
was  a  tribute  to  this  fine  Baltimore  band  which  came  from  the  heart, 
and  it  was  one  that  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  those  who  wit- 
nessed it. 

On  the  return  from  the  Fair  Grounds,  later  in  the  day,  the  om- 
nibus containing  the  band  halted  in  front  of  the  Institution  for 
the  Blind,  when  the  members  of  the  band,  together  with  a  number 
of  the  officers  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Eailroad,  entered  the  in- 
stitution and  greeted  the  inmates  with  several  airs,  executed  in  a 
masterly  manner.  Mr.  Whelan,  on  the  part  of  the  pupils,  returned 
thanks  for  the  pleasure  given  them,  and  invited  the  guests  to  listen  to 
the  music  of  the  ])upils.  After  several  pieces  by  the  blind  and  the 
band,  one  of  the  Baitimoreans,  on  behalf  of  the  Blues'  Band,  presented 
their  banner  to  the  institution.  The  band  also  presented  to  the  Insti- 
tution tbirty  dollars,  which  Mr.  Wiielan  accepted  on  condition  that 
the"  present  should  be  appropriated  to  the  furnishing  of  a  strawberry 
feast  for  the  pupils,  which  was  their  wish  on  a  vote.  After  a  few 
further  remarks  by  some  of  the  guests  they  took  leave,  delighted  with 
their  visit  to  the  institution,  and  with  the  consciousness  that  they  had 
contributed  an  hour  of  happiness  to  the  unfortunate  inmates. 

The  Fair  Grounds  are  situated  on  a  high  hill,  back  of  the  citj',  and 
a  little  to  the  north  of  it.  They  are,  almost  unquestionably,  the  finest 
arranged  grounds  for  the  purposes  of  agricultural  and  mechanical  ex- 
hibitions to  be  found  in  the  United  States.  They  embrace  about  fifty 
acres  of  land,  enclosed  with  a  substantial  and  impenetrable  fence.  The 
land  alone,  unimproved,  cost  $50,000.  The  grounds  have  been  im- 
proved almost  without  regard  to  expense.  Water  carried  to  it  from  a 
distance,  is  distributed  by  pipes  wherever  convenience  requires,  and 
at  night  the  entire  place  is  illuminated  by  gaslight.  The  grounds  are 
perfectly  level,  and  richly  carpeted  with  luxuriant  blue  grass.  In  the 
centre  rises  a  magnificent  amphitheatre,  850  feet  in  diameter,  with  a 
centre  arena,  the  diameter  of  which  is  250  feet.  Its  cost  was  near 
$70,000.  This  amphitlieatre  will  seat  comfortably  nearly  ten  thousand 
jteople.  Each  ])romenade  will  hold  eight  thousand,  so  that  twenty-six 
thousand  peoi)le  nuiy  be  sheltered  under  the  roof  of  this  magnificent 


CEREMONIES    AT    THE    ST.  LOUIS    FAIR    GROUNDS.  233 

structure.  A  heavy  ornamented  cornice  surmounts  the  numerous 
pillars  facing  in  to  the  centre,  and  on  the  arena  in  tlie  middle  of  the 
circle  is  a  neat  pagoda  with  three  platforms,  handsomely  balustraded, 
up  tlirough  which  and  far  above  runs  a  lofty  flag-staff,  from  wjiich 
floated  the  stars  and  stripes.  In  the  pagoda,  which  is  of  open  lattice- 
work, a  fountain  threw  up  jets  of  bright  water,  producing  a  very 
pleasant  sensation.  Great  as  the  crowd  was,  when  the  procession, 
with  thousands  of  citizens,  had  entered  the  amphitheatre,  it  was  only 
partially  occupied.  The  gallery  of  eleven  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  on 
the  southern  side,  was  filled  with  ladies  and  gentlemen,  the  gnests 
of  the  occasion.  A  convenient  rostrum,  covered  with  clean  white 
linen,  was  set  aside  for  the  dignitaries  and  the  orators;  the  seats  on 
the  right  side  were  assigned  to  the  reporters,  who  formed  a  respect- 
able battalion,  and  were  never  more  comfortably  accommodated.  The 
ladies  were  on  the  terraced  seats  on  the  right  of  the  rostrum,  and  on 
their  riglit  again  was  a  large  band  of  singers  of  the  German  Glee  Clubs. 
The  arena  was  assigned  to  the  military,  the  firemen,  and  the  turners, 
who  marched  several  times  around  it  with  their  bands,  discoursing 
lively  airs,  to  the  great  satisfaction  and  delight  of  the  spectators. 

A  bountiful  and  superb  collation  had  been  arranged  on  three  tables 
extending  about  300  feet  along  a  portion  of  the  promenade  inside  the 
amphitheatre  reserved  for  this  purpose.  When  the  tables  were  com- 
pletely set,  they  presented  quite  an  elegant  appearance.  Delicacies 
and  decorations  were  displayed  with  great  effect,  taste  and  conve- 
nience being  equally  consulted  by  the  efficient  dinner  committee  and 
their  purveyor.  Many  a  longing  eye  and  watering  mouth  was  turned 
towards  this  (juarter  of  the  scene,  long  before  the  hour  of  attack  ar- 
rived. 

Uj)on  the  principal  stand  were  noticed  the  following  gentlemen: 
Hon.  Edward  Bates ;  Hon.  Trusten  Polk,  United  States  Senator  from 
Missouri ;  Hon.  J.  M.  Wimer  ;  Hon.  L.  M.  Kennett;  Mi-.  Flagg,  of  Cin- 
cinnati Council ;  Mayor  Adams,  of  Chillicothe  ;  Mayor  Pilcher,  of 
Louisville;  Mayor  Dick,  of  Yinceimes;  John  B.  Seidenstricker,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Baltimore  City  Council ;  Hon.  Fayette  McMullen,  of  Vir- 
ginia; Ex-Gov.  Jioynolds,  of  Illinois;  Ex-Gov.  Philip  Francis  Thomas, 
of  Marj'land;  Judge  Z.  Collins  Lee,  of  Baltimore;  Hon.  Mr.  Corwin, 
of  Cincinnati ;  Hon.  Mr.  L.  L'Homadieu,  of  Cincinnati ;  Prof.  O.  M. 
Mitchell,  Cincinnati;  Hon.  T.L.Price;  Hon.  Nathaniel  Cox,  Secre- 
tary of  State  of  Maryland ;  Hon.  W.  H.  Traver.*,  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  Maryland  ;  Dr.  D.  Claude,  Treasurer  of  Maryland ; 


234  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

Hon.  J.  Dixon  Reman,  from  Maryland;  Wm.  M.  M'Pherson,  PresUlent 
of  the  Pacific  Railroad;  Col.  John  O' Fallon;  G.  R.  Taylor,  Pres.  of 
St.  Louis  Board  ot  Aldermen ;  H.  D.  Bacon ;  Hon.  J.  M.  Harris,  M.  C. 
from  Maryland;  H(m.  Wash.  King;  Hon.  Charles  Jones;  J.  H,  Lucas; 
Francis  P.  Blair,  Sen. ;  Hon.  F.  P.  Blair ;  Hon,  Erastus  Brooks,  New 
York;  Gen.  W.  L.  Gaither,  S.  C.  Leakin,  J.  B.  Brinkley,  C.  D.  Hinks, 
Robert  Turner,  Ezra  Houck,  and  Edward  Shriver,  of  Maryland,  Di- 
rectors of  tlie  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 

After  the  military  evolutions  in  the  arena  were  completed,  Hon. 
John  M.  Wiraer,  Mayor  of  St.  Louis,  came  forward,  and,  claiming  the 
attention  of  the  vast  audience,  presented  Hon.  Edward  Bates,  of  St. 
Louis,  as  the  orator  of  the  day. 

Mr.  Bates  came  forward  and  addressed  the  audience,  occupying 
their  undivided  attention  fur  more  than  two  hours.  We  regret  to 
state  that  no  report  of  this  eloquent  and  able  elfort  Avas  made  at  the 
time,  and  that  our  repeated  endeavors  to  obtain  even  a  just  outline  of 
it,  have  failed.  We  are  compelled,  therefore,  to  be  content  with  a 
very  brief  statement  of  its  general  scope  and  character. 

The  orator  commenced  by  remarking  that  he  had  had  imposed  iipon  him 
the  pleasing  duty  of  welcoming  the  guests  of  St.  Louis.  This  selection  was 
made,  perhaps,  because  he  was  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  city :  not  be- 
cause he  was  of  St.  Louis  birth,  but  because  he  had  grown  up  with  her  growth 
and  loved  the  city  as  his  own.  Had  the  arrival  of  these  guests  been  casual, 
St.  Louis  would  have  been  honored  by  the  reception  of  such  a  body  of  men  ;  she 
would  have  done  all  she  could  to  render  their  stay  happy  and  pleasant.  But  on 
such  an  occasion,  so  many  distinguished  guests  coming  from  distant  cities  and 
States  to  celebrate  the  completion  of  a  great  work  of  man,  her  joy  was  greater, 
and  she  felt  that  it  was  an  honor  deep  and  lasting.  Among  the  guests  present 
are  such  as  any  city  would  be  proud  to  welcome ;  here  are  heads  of  States, 
men  renowned  in  literature,  men  great  in  government,  men  prominent  in  the 
arts  and  sciences — such  men  as  tlie  world  delights  in,  and  such  as  the  world 
greets  with  pleasure  and  pride. 

Mr.  B.  next  adverted  to  the  almost  incredible  progress  and  improvement 
made  within  the  period  of  his  own  experience,  not  only  by  St.  Louis  but  by  the 
whole  of  the  West,  which  had  grown  up  under  his  eye,  and  by  the  country  at 
large,  in  every  means  of  communication.  He  had  frequently  spent  five  and 
twenty  days  in  traversing  on  horseback  the  distance  between  that  city  and 
Richmond,  Va. ;  now,  intelligence  was  carried  by  lightning,  and  personal  inter- 
course was  conducted  by  steam.  He  compared  the  present  occasion  to  the  an- 
nual bridal  of  the  Adriatic,  when  the  Doge  of  Venice  espoused  his  city  to  the 
sea,  the  source  of  her  pre-eminent  wealth  and  power,  and  proceeded  to  speak 
eloquently  iu  review  of  the  results  to  flow  from  the  wonderful  triumph  of  ait 


THE     ORATION     OF    WELCOME     BY    EDWARD    DATES.  235 

wliicli  had  wedded  the  Missi^sijipi  to  llie  Athmtic.  The  railroads  now  com- 
pleted, connecting  in  a  line  as  straight  as  possible  the  cities  of  Baltimore  and 
St.  Louis,  nearly  1,000  miles  apart,  had  some  peculiar  features  of  importance 
which  a  glance  at  the  map  would  suggest.  These  cities  were  on  nearly  the 
same  parallel  of  latitude,  and  so  the  line  was  not  only  straight,  but  also  due 
East  and  West.  Further,  as  the  great  river  ran  north  and  south,  it  was, 
therefore,  tapped  by  this  new  channel  of  commerce  at  a  right  angle,  and  that 
moreover  at  a  central  point  of  its  coiu-se,  whence  you  could  circumnavigate 
the  nation  ;  lor  the  muddy  Mississippi  had  long  been  connected  w^ith  the  pellu- 
cid lakus. 

The  speaker  continued  to  expatiate  at  considerable  length  on  the  future 
destinies  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  of  St,  Louis,  its  natui-al  centre,  for  so  her 
citizens  regarded  their  city  ;  and  he  had  been  for  more  than  thirty  years  con- 
vinced that  the  commercial  centre  of  the  Valley  must  be  at  some  point  be- 
tween the  mouths  of  the  Missouri  and  the  Ohio  Rivers.  He  went  back  into 
the  early  history  of  the  settlements  on  the  banks  of  the  great  river ;  the  high 
endeavors  of  the  pioneers,  from  whose  small  beginnings  the  great  VaUey  of  the 
Mississippi  was  to  become  the  supporting  home  of  20,000,000  of  popvilation. 
He  looked  upon  the  railroads  as  finally  to  become  the  outlet  of  a  superabun- 
dance both  of  people  and  products. 

Passing  to  the  glorious  union  of  the  States,  he  said  it  was  a  fact  that  the 
great  Valley  of  the  Mississippi  was,  politically,  neither  Noi'th  nor  South — it 
was  the  nation's.  Until  its  geography  could  be  changed,  and  its  waters  be 
turned  back  at  its  mouth,  it  was  a  bond  of  union  for  ever.  You  could  see  the 
manners  and  habits,,  and  hear  the  languages  of  twenty  dififerent  nations  in  St. 
Louis,  and  these,  too,  were  spread  through  the  whole  valley.  It  was  not  seo- 
tional;    and  this  idea  he  proceeded  to  illustrate  with  point  and  eloquence. 

He  presented  a  mass  of  statistics  with  reference  to  the  greatness  and 
growth  of  the  products  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  of  the  ti'ade  of  St.  Louis, 
its  navigable  waters,  extent  of  railroad  communication,  etc.  This  valley 
afiForded  to  St.  Louis  25,000  miles  of  navigable  water,  and  there  had  been  a 
like  amount  of  railroad  track  laid  on  its  borders.  Of  these  railroads  1,100 
miles  w'ere  in  IMissouri,  and  it  had  required  iron  to  the  amount  of  132,000 
tons  for  rails  to  lay  it.  That  this  was  to  be  the  greatest  iron  region  of  the 
world  there  was  not  a  shadow  of  doubt.  Their  iron  mountain  now  being 
reached  by  rail,  would  render  iron  and  its  manufactures  one  of  their  most  abun- 
dant products.  The  iron  trade  of  St.  Louis  had  already  gone  up  to  a  yearly 
consumption  of  tens  of  thousands  of  tons  from  312  in  the  beginning. 

Other  wonderful  facts  were  also  given,  set  off  with  a  rhetoric  and  beauty  of 
thought  worthy  the  occasion.  The  speaker  concluded  «ith  a  most  eloquent 
expression  of  his  faith  in  the  perpetuity  of  this  union  of  States,  as  a  necessary 
result  of  their  mutual  dependence  and  natural  connection.     "  Not  an  acre  of 


286  GREAT    OHIO     AND    MISSISSIPPI     KAILKOAD    OPENING. 

profitable  land,"  said  lie,  "  along  tlie  course  of  this  mighty  and  divinely  ap- 
pointed bulwark  of  our  institutions,  the  Mississippi,  is  in  truth,  politically, 
either  North  or  South  !"  The  learned  orator  was  enthusiastically  cheered  by 
his  entire  audience,  during  the  progress  and  at  the  conclusion  of  his  address. 

After  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Bates'  speech,  it  seemed  to  be  unani- 
mously determined  that  dinner  should  be  the  next  thing  discussed. 
The  committee  on  the  dinner,  who  fulfilled  their  duty  with  exquisite 
system  and  good  taste,  proceeded  to  seat  the  invited  guests,  who  were 
without  any  difficulty  satisfactorily  accommodated.  All  expressed 
themselves  well  pleased  with  the  viands  and  wines  that  were  set  before 
them,  and  for  which  they  were  largely  indebted  to  the  energy,  skill, 
and  enterprise  of  William  Wade,  a  St.  Louis  merchant,  who  presided 
at  the  committee,  and  under  whose  supervision  the  dinner  was 
prei)ared.  The  viands  were  varied,  and  excellently  cooked,  and  the 
wines  were  lavishly  supplied,  while  the  strawberries,  ice-cream, 
and  cakes,  that  were  in  abundance  on  every  portion  of  the  tables, 
seemed  to  be  almost  inexhaustible.  The  guests  partook  of  what  was 
set  before  them  with  iiearty  appetites,  and  when  satisfied  found  still 
on  the  tables  enougli  to  have  supplied  a  company  as  large  as  that 
which  had  risen.     AVe  append  the 

BILL    OF    FARE. 

Boned  Tui-key; 

Ham,  Champagne  Sauce ; 

Beef,  a-la  Mode  ; 

Tenderloin  Larded ; 

Stuffed  Turkey  and  Oysters  ; 

Spring   Cliickeus,    a  la   Tartar ; 

Quail  Patties ; 

Snipe    Patties ; 

Chicken  Patties  ; 

Marbled  Veal ; 

Beef  Tongue; 

Roast  Turkey ; 

Spring  Chickens,  Broiled ; 

Lamb  and  Mint  Sauce  ; 

Sandwiches. 

Ciiicken  Salad;  Lobster  Salad. 

V  K  G  K  T  A  P.  L  K  S  . 
DESSERT. 

Vanilla  Ice  Cream  ;  Pyramids  ; 

Lemon  Ice  ("ream  ;  Charlotte  Russe  ; 

Strawberry  Ice  Cream  ;  Cakes ; 

Orange  Ice ;  Fresh  Strawbt  rri is. 


SPFKCHICS    FOR    MARYLAND    AND    VIRGINIA.  237 

LIQUORS. 

Glasgow's  Sparkling  Catawba ;  London  Porter ; 

Do.         Still  do.  Lager  JJeer. 

ALsop's  Ale. 

After  dinner  a  series  of  regular  toasts,  prepared  by  the  committee, 
were  read  by  Mayor  Wiraer,  and  were  generally  resjionded  to  in  tboir 
order. 

The  first,  "  The  President  of  the  United  Stntes^^''  was  assigned  to 
Senator  Green,  of  Missouri,  but  there  was  no  response,  in  view  of  the 
number  of  speakers  from  a  distance  who  were  expected  to  occupy  the 
day. 

"  The  Governor  of  Maryland, ''''  was  acknowledged  to  by  IT  on.  "Wm. 
H.  Travers,  Speaker  of  the  Maryland  House  of  Delegates.    He  said  : 

I  have  travelled  over  one  thousand  miles  since  Tuesday  last,  and  am  too 
much  exhausted  to  respond  appropriately  to  the  very  complimentarj'  notice 
taken  by  your  worthy  Mayor  of  the  State  of  Marj^land.  In  common  with 
large  numbers  of  my  fellow-citizens  througliout  that  honored  commouwealtli, 
I  have  come  to  witness  the  splendid  nuptials  by  which  this  day  the  distant 
Atlantic  becomes  the  smihng  bride  of  the  giant  West.  With  glad  hearts  we 
celebrate  with  you  this  memorable  event.  It  is  an  achievement  over  which 
the  Republic  itself  may  rejoice,  because  in  these  times  of  threatened  disruption 
and  disunion,  and  whilst  men  are  wickedly  calculating  the  value  of  the  con- 
federacy, and  without  hesitation  Avould  apportion  its  wealth  and  its  glories 
among  contending  sections,  these  ligaments  of  iron  with  which  you  are  draw- 
ing us  into  closer  neigbborhood  and  most  ready  intercourse  with  each  other,  are 
so  many  ties  to  bind  lis  together,  I  trust,  as  one  indissoluble  and  united  people. 
Over  the  scenes  now  trans[>iring  around  us,  romance  herself  seems  to  have 
thrown  her  ciiains.  ]5ut  a  few  years  ago  how  different  was  the  spectacle  !  Could 
De  Soto  and  La  Salle  be  awakened  from  the  sleep  of  death  and  behold  the  ex- 
hibition of  to-day  ;  could  they  mark  the  contrast  between  the  woods  and  wilds 
and  solitudes  of  this  western  coimtrythen,  and  tlie  life  and  bustle  and  advanced 
civilization  which  are  now  abounding  here,  how  wonld  they  ponder  this 
wonderful  change  with  astonishment !  Instead  of  the  forest  waste  inhabited 
by  wild  beasts  and  reverberating  with  the  yell  of  the  savage,  they  would  find 
splendid  cities,  gorgeous  steamers,  the  hum  of  machinery,  and  a  country 
teeming  with  the  farms  and  homes  of  happy  freemen  extending  from  the  rising 
to  the  setting  sun.  For  the  accomplishment  of  these  things  Maryland  sends  to 
you  this  day  all  congratulation.  Nor  need  you  be  surprised,  if  in  the  future 
hundreds  of  our  fellow-citizens  shall  follow  to  realize  the  genial  hospitality 
which  you  have  on  this  occasion,  with  a  liberal  Land,  so  lavishly  showered 
upon  us.  • 


238  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

"  The  Governor  of  Virginia  "  was  responded  to  by  Mr.  John  R. 
Thompson,  of  Ricliniond,  the  editor  of  the  Southern  Literary  Mes- 
senger, in  an  appropriate  and  pleasing  manner. 

Mr.  Thompson  said  he  believed  it  was  Charles  Lamb  who  declared  that 
he  had  never  taught  school  but  once,  and  that  he  had  then  taught  school  by 
giving  the  boys  holiday.  He  knew  not  but  that  he  should  make  a  more 
effective  speech  by  preserving  an  eloquent  silence.  But  having  been  selected 
to  respond  to  the  sentiment  just  annoiinced,  he  should  be  recreant  to  those 
feelings  of  filial  regard  which  he  had  ever  cherished  for  his  maternal  State, 
could  he  leave  her  beloved  name  to  be  toasted  without  acknowledgment.  The 
honor  paid  to  Virginia  had  been  most  fitly  rendered  through  her  chief  execu- 
tive magistrate,  Hemy  A.  Wise,  and  the  speaker  deeply  regretted  tliat — 
[Here  Mr.  Thompson  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  into  the  arsna  of  the 
pavihon,  of  a  company  of  soldiers  with  a  military  brass  band  playing  in  fall 
concert.] — When  the  music  had  been  stopped  by  order  of  the  Mayor,  Mr. 
Thompson  proceeded  to  say  that  he  was  about  to  remark,  when  his  words 
were  drowned  in  the  noise  of  the  instruments,  that  he  greatly  regretted  the 
absence  from  this  glorious  festivity  of  Governor  Wise,  whose  voice  would  hive 
risen  above  the  din  of  mariial  music,  and  sounded  indeed  as  a  clarion  in 
itself.  But  the  speaker  was  glad  that  he  had  come  a  thousand  miles  and 
more  to  mingle  in  the  triumphs  of  the  hour —  triumphs  more  glorious  than  those 
of  vulgar  war,  because  unstained  by  blood  and  significant  only  of  man's  phys- 
ical and  moral  elevation.  The  speaker  was  going  on  to  comment  on  the 
commanding  interest  of  ihe  occasion,  when  the  noise  of  a  drum  and  fife  imme- 
diately belovy  him  again  prevented  his  being  heard.  This  second  disturbance 
having  ceased,  he  resumed  by  saying,  that  there  were  present  a  few  of  his 
fellow-citizens  of  the  noi-th-western  portion  of  Virginia,  who  had  united  with 
Baltimore  in  building  that  grand  link  in  the  chain  of  railway  communication 
between  the  Atlantic  and  the  Mississippi — the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad — 
who  were  justly  entitled  to  the  courtesy  of  being  heard  at  this  jubilee,  and  he 
felt  that  he  ought  rather  to  speak  for  them  than  for  the  State  at  large,  which  was 
not  as  yet  fully  riveted  by  iron  bands  to  the  Great  West.  But  although  the  Old 
Dominion  had  no  immediate  and  controlling  interest  in  this  joyous  celebration, 
she  was  connected  with  the  West  by  stUl  closer  and  more  enduring  ties  than 
those  of  iron,  and  was  represented  here  by  better  elements  than  any  of  a  mate- 
rial kind.  We  have  sent  no  locomotive  engines  beyond  the  beautiful  river  to 
bring  to  us  the  golden  harvests  of  the  prairie,  though  the  time  will  come 
when  the  abundant  wealth  of  this  magnificent  valley  of  the  Mississippi  will 
flow  through  Virginia's  mountains  like  a  Pactolus  to  the  sea ;  but  we  have  sent 
something  better — men,  "  higli-minded  men,"  to  carry  Virginia's  civilization 
onward  in  the  pathway  of  empire,  and  disseminate  her  virtues  even  to  the  set- 


PROFESSOR    MITCHELL    SPEAKS    FOR    OHIO.  239 

ting  snn.  Her  part  in  western  progress  had  been  an  unselfish  part,  and  she 
had  acted  on  the  scriptural  principle,  that  it  was  mor?  blessed  to  give  than  to 
receive.  As  the  speaker  stood  yesterday  for  the  first  time  on  the  banks  of  the 
Wabash,  he  remembered  that  it  was  Virginian  valor  in  the  strong  arm  of  George 
Rogers  Clark  which  had  subjugated  this  splendid  domain  afterwards  to  be 
voluntarily  relinquished  for  the  benefit  of  the  Union,  and  to-day,  it  was  not 
long  after  his  eye  had  rested,  for  the  first  time,  ou  the  tawny  current  of  the 
Father  of  Waters,  that  he  had  reason  to  feel  a  just  pride  in  his  State,  as  he 
listened  to  the  noble  oration  which  one  of  her  sons  had  here  pronounced.  It 
had  often  been  said  of  Virginia  in  derision,  that  it  was  an  excellent  State  to 
emigrate  from,  and  the  West  had  long  since  found  out  that  it  was  the  best  of 
States  from  which  to  get  emigrants.  Yes,  said  the  speaker,  if  Virginia  had 
never  given  up  an  empire  to  the  general  government,  if  she  had  never  endow- 
ed the  West  with  the  imperial  intellect  of  Henry  Clay,  this  wide  region,  and 
Missouri  especially,  would  have  reason  to  cherish  for  her  feelings  of  lasting 
gratitude,  in  remembering  that  she  had  contributed  to  the  rising  glories  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  the  genius  of  Edward  Bates.  Mr.  Thompson  concluded 
by  giving,  as  a  sentiment,  "  The  Orator  of  the  Day." 

Three  cheers  were  then  given  for  "Old  Virginia,"  and  three  more 
for  the  speaker. 

"•  The  Governor  oj  Pennsyhania  "  was  to  have  been  responded  to 
by  Mr.  McCombe,  who  unfortunately  was  not  present. 

"  The  Governor  of  Ohio''''  was  responded  to  in  accordance  with  tlie 
most  general  and  enthusiastic  popular  demand,  by  Professor  O.  M. 
Mitchell,  of  Cincinnati,  the  pioneer  engineer  of  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi Railroad,  its  Financial  Commissioner,  and  finally,  one  of  the 
contractors  for  completing  the  Eastern  Division.  Mounting  the  stand 
he  turned  himself  edgewise  to  the  double  audience  right  and  left. 
This  impartiality  seemed  to  give  universal  satisfaction,  and  the  Pro- 
fessor, taking  advantage  of  a  momentary  pause  in  the  roll  of  dnuns, 
the  braying  of  horns,  and  clash  of  cymbals,  spoke  as  follows  as  nearly 
as  we  could  report : — 

MY    FRIENDS    AND     FELLOW    COUNTRY3IEN  : 

I  know  but  two  enemies,  over  whom  I  am  disposed  to  triumph  with  un- 
mitigated and  jubilant  satisfaction — these  enemies  are  Time  and  Space.  Such 
is  my  temperament,  that  1  have  actually  sufiFered  a  kind  of  mental  agony  from 
the  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  being  at  one  point,  I  could  not  reach  another 
without  passing  over  the  intermediate  space  which  separated  them.  The 
route  passed  yesterday  so  triumphantly   between  the  two  focal  cities  of  the 


240  GKEAT    OHIO     AND     MISKISSIPI'I     RAILKOAD     OI'KNINO. 

West,  I  have  long  battled  with  on  foot  and  on  horseback,  in  the  mud  wagon 
and  the  stage  coach.  I  have  fought  with  mud,  and  more — with  sleet,  rain, 
and  hail  storms,  with  flood  and  even  fire,  on  these  broad  prairies  :  these  were  the 
advanced  pickets,  and  the  main  body  and  the  rear-guard  of  ray  old  foes  "  time 
and  space  ;"  but  on  yesterday  we  had  them  all  under  the  iron  wheel  of  our  fly- 
ing train,  and  I  must  confess  to  a  feeling  of  proud  exultation  in  the  downfall 
and  almost  utter  destruction  of  my  bitterest  enemies. 

I  remember  full  well  the  time  and  place  when  I  uttered  the  prediction,  that 
tlie  day  would  come,  and  that  at  no  distant  period,  when  the  same  sun  whose 
kindling  rays  should  illume  the  train  departing  from  St.  Louis,  would  fling  his 
slant  beams  on  the  same  train  bending  to  the  beautiful  curves  of  the  Ohio,  as 
it  entered  the  Queen  City.  This  prediction  was  uttered  on  the  opposite  bank  of 
the  Mississippi,  in  the  presence  of  assembled  thousands  gathered  to  witness  the 
upheaval  of  the  first  shovelful  of  earth,  and  to  inaugurate  the  beginning  of  the 
gigantic  work  whose  completion  has  drawn  hither  the  clustering  thousands 
who  now  surround  this  straining  platform.  It  would  be  utterl}^  impossible,  my 
friends,  to  give  you  even  a  faint  idea  of  the  feelings  which  swept  through  my 
own  mind,  as  I  flew  over  the  necks  of  my  prostrate  enemies  on  yesterday. 
Every  hiU,  and  stream,  and  prairie — every  farm-house  and  cabin,  marked  the 
scene  of  some  adventure,  or  commemorated  the  achievement  of  some  signal 
victory.  The  events  of  eight  long  years  came  crowding  upon  me  like  the  gi- 
gantic shadows  of  the  past — the  memory  of  early  friends  and  collaborators, 
who  with  stern  and  hopeful  courage  and  determined  wiU  had  with  me  stood 
foremost  in  the  grand  struggle  on  which  we  had  entered.  Alas !  some  of  them, 
like  the  forlorn  hope  of  a  beleaguering  army,  had  fallen  bravely  fighting  at 
their  posts  ere  the  shout  of  victory  had  come  to  cheer  their  dying  moments. 
Honor  to  their  memories — their  names  are  inseparably  united  with  the  great 
woi-k  in  whose  behalf  they  fell ! 

Those  of  you  who  passed  so  swiftly  on  yesterday  over  the  3-10  miles  of  inter- 
vening space  which  separates  the  cities  of  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis,  reposing  on 
luxurious  cushioned  seats,  gliding  with  a  velocity  of  thirty  miles  per  hour  over 
hill  and  dale,  swamp,  river,  and  prairie,  regaled  with  the  choicest  wines  and 
with  the  sumptuous  fare  of  unbounded  hospitality,  can  but  poorly  appreciate 
the  contrast  between  this  last  journey  and  the  first  I  ever  made  between  the 
same  two  points.  Then  our  toilsome  march  was  on  foot,  urging  forward  the 
survey  which  was  to  fix  the  fate  of  the  enterprise,  through  rain  and  snow,  and 
sleet  and  flood,  drenched  by  day,  chilled  and  almost  frozen  in  caves  by  night 
with  little  to  eat  and  the  same  to  drink — toiling  through  forests,  struggling 
through  toiiruous  valleys,  piercing  the  rocky  hills  ior  future  tunnels,  and  span- 
ning the  swollen  and  sometimes  furious  streams  for  bridges  in  embryo.  P'lying 
as  I  did  on  yesterday  past  the  scenes  of  these  early  struggles,  I  could  not  but 
compare  my  sensations  to  those  of  the  liberated  Trojans  after  a  pent-up  siege 


PKOK.     MI'rrilELI.'s    i^l'EKCH     AT    ST.     I.OLIS.  241 

of  ten  long  yeai-s.  You  remember  the  Homeric  song  of  the  siege  of  Troy — 
the  treacherous  Greeks,  pretending  to  set  sail  for  home,  and  to  leave  forever 
the  ensanguined  plain  on  which  their  mightiest  heroes  had  bled,  concealed 
themselves  behind  the  island  of  Tenedos.  The  Trojans,  frenzied  with  joy  at 
this  unexpected  release,  flung  wide  their  gates,  and,  dressed  in  their  gayest  at- 
tire, issued  forth  once  more  on  the  well-known  plain,  now  freed  from  the  des- 
ecration of  a  hostile  foot.  The  classic  scenes  were  visited  and  pointed  out — 
Here  were  encamped  the  legions  of  the  fierce  Achilles — here  lay  the  fleet,  and 
here  was  fought  the  battle  of  the  ships — there  Patroclus  fell,  and  here  has  the 
dishonored  body  of  the  mighty  Hector  been  chained  to  the  chariot  wheels  of 
his  unrelenting  foe  : — such,  in  kind,  were  my  own  reminiscences  as  I  swept 
over  the  scenes  of  our  early  adventures,  grounds  to  me  consecrated  by  memo- 
ries which  can  never  fade. 

Pardon  me  if  I  indulge  somewhat  in  these  seeming  personalities.  The 
Siege  of  Troy  has  been  sung  by  the  divinest  poet  of  the  olden  time — the  Sieore 
of  Sevastopol  has  filled  the  modern  world  with  wonder  and  amazement,  mak- 
ing and  unmaking  heroes,  and  calling  forth  inventive  skill,  fertility  of  resource 
energy  of  character,  indomitable  courage,  cool  sagacity,  and  even  reckless 
bravery  such  as  the  world  has  almost  never  known — and  yet,  though  one  of 
these  sieges  with  its  events,  its  battles,  and  its  heroes,  gods  and  men,  has  been 
embalmed  in  poetry,  and  the  other  has  been  rendered  immortal  in  history,  yet 
neither  the  one  nor  the  other  has  drawn  forth  greater  abiUt3'  than  the  projec- 
tion, execution,  and  completion  of  the  stupendous  work,  which  by  iron  bands 
this  day  unites  the  Chesapeake  Bay  with  that  mighty  flood,  which  is  yonder 
sweeping  its  fast  and  furious  tide  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

I  would  not  underrate  the  glory  and  grandeur  of  a  war  of  freedom.  Bred 
a  soldier,  it  would  ill  become  me  to  speak  slightingly  of  the  triumphs  of  the 
"  tented  field."  But  there  are  civic  triumphs,  though  less  dazzling  and  mag- 
nificent, in  no  degree  less  important.  You  have  heard  on  yesterday  the 
booming  of  cannon  ;  you  have  witnessed  on  last  night  the  blazing  of  bonfires ; 
you  have  seen  the  streaming  of  bannei-s,  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs,  the 
loud  shouts  of  triumph  which  hailed  our  approaching  train  as  we  swept  through 
forest  or  prairie.  To  you,  possibly,  it  was  but  the  effei-vescence  of  a  fickl 
population  on  a,  grand  gala  day.  Not  so,  my  friends.  These  demonstrations 
were  real  ;  these,  bla;^ing  fires  were  lighted  by  warm  and  glowing  hearts ;  those 
waving  emblems  of  joy  were  held  by  the  w  ives  and  daughters  of  a  teeming 
population  released  from  thraldom  by  the  completion  of  this  mighty  work, 
and  placed  now  and  for  ever  in  a  position  of  independence  and  prosperity. 

Ah !  if  you  could  have  gone  with  me  five  years  ago  to  th^  cabins  whence 
have  issued  the  joyous  throng  which  greeted  us  on  yesterday^  and  talked  with 
the  toil-worn  father  and  the  almost  desponding  ipother,  then  you  might  iu 
some  degree  have  appreciated  the  triumph. 

Well  do  I  remember  a  family  with   whom  I  passed  a  ni^ht  iu  my  ea,rlv 


242  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPKKING. 

explorations  on  the  banks  of  the  little  Wabash.  On  all  sides  of  their  cabin 
stretched  the  rich  and  boundless  prairie.  The  fertile  soil  yielded  abundant 
return  for  the  labor  of  the  hard-working  husbandman.  But  alas,  the  crops 
were  even  but  partly  gathered,  and  a  sort  of  despondent  gloona  rested  on  the 
brow  of  the  sun-bronzed  farmer.  "  Why  don't  you  gather  your  corn  ?'  said  I. 
".What's  the  use  ?"  was  the  reply.  "  We  have  gathered  and  cribbed  more 
than  enough  for  our  own  use.  It  is  iitterly  impossible  to  reach  a  market ; 
there  is  no  one,  to  buy,  and  we  have  no  inducement  to  labor.  Our  sons  and 
daughters  are  growing  up  around  us  in  ignorance ;  the  turnpike  road  has 
failed  ;  the  State  works  have  failed,  and  now  a  last  ray  of  hope  has  been  kin- 
dled by  the  talk  of  a  great  railway  from  St.  Louis  to  Cincinnati.  We  have 
enough  of  every  thing,  all  we  want  is  an  outlet.  But  there  seems  to  be  no 
chance,  and  we  are  slowly  sinking  into  gloom  and  despair !" 

Is  it  nothing  to  remove  the  heavy  load  from  that  father's  heart  ?  Is  it 
nothing  to  open  warm,  glowing,  love-giving  daylight  upon  his  cheerless  cot- 
tage? Is  it  nothing  to  furnish  him  with  the  means  to  send  his  brightest  boy 
to  college  and  his  beaiitii'ul  pet,  Daisy,  to  the  young  ladies'  academy  ?  Don't 
tell  me  those  shouts  which  rang  upon  our  ears,  as  we  swept  over  hill  and 
dale,  were  the  idle  shouts  of  an  ignorant  rabble ;  I  know  better.  They  were 
the  exultant  notes  of  freed  men  and  freed  women,  thanking  God  that  broad 
daylight  had  at  length  broken  in  upon  them  in  the  wilderness,  and  that  hence- 
forward improvement,  advancement,  education,  amelioration,  hope,  and  hap- 
piness were  to  be  bright  attendants  of  their  career  in  life.  Aud  now  to  whom 
are  we  indebted  for  this  wondrous  revolution  ?  I  mean  those  of  us  who  stand 
at  the  western  extremity  of  the  iron  chain  sweeping  hence  to  the  Chesape.ake. 
There  is  no  one  within  the  sound  of  my  voice  who  is  so  utterly  devoid  of 
reason  as  to  suppose  that  a  work  of  this  gigantic  character  could  have  been 
conceived,  carried  forward,  and  finally  completed  without  tremendous  effort 
and  terrible  sacrifice.  Woe  to  the  land  when  the  days  of  public  spirit  are 
numbered,  when  every  grand  eriterprise  is  to  be  weighed  and  measured  by  the 
rigid  standard  of  ten  per  centum  per  annum, — when  soul  and  heart,  and  flesh 
and  blood  are  transmuted  into  glittering  gold,  cold  and  dead.  I  fear  the  days  of 
liberal  minds,  of  large,  generous  hearts,  of  willing,  stern,  self- .sacrificing  devo- 
tion are  fast  passing  away.  But  I  thank  God  that  some  of  the  great  and 
good  are  still  left  to  witness  this  glorious  day,  and  to  participate  in  a  triumph 
won  by  their  own  stem  unyielding  courage  and  sagacity. 

I  would  not  pass  by  any  of  the  early  and  ardent  friends  of  this  work. 
They  were  all  good  men  and  tnae ;  but  there  sits  now  on  the  platform  and 
within  the  range  of  my  eye,  one  who  in  sunshine  and  in  storm,  iu  prosperity 
or  adversity,  has  ever  stood  like  the  ocean  rock,  firm  and  immovable,  a  ral- 
lying point  upon  which  we  could  always  fall  back  with  safety,  and  from  which 
we  could  organize  for  a  renewed  effort.  Wise  in  council,  prudent  in  action, 
stern  in  pui-pose,  unyielding  in  energy,  such  is    Col.  John  0' Fallon,  who  first 


PROF.    MITCHKl.I.S    SPEECH    AT    ST.    LOUIS.  243 

presided  over  the  destinies  of  the  western  division  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
Kuilroad.  There  is  one  other  eminent  citizen  of  St.  Louis,  whose  name  jus- 
tice compels  me  to  mention.  I  care  not  what  ma}^  be  our  private  relations ;  I 
am  constrained  to  bear  testimony  to  his  earnest  and  unselfish  devotion  to  the 
best  interests  of  this  grand  work.  Xot,  indeed,  among  its  very  earliest  friends, 
but  enlisting  long  before  any  serious  advance  had  been  made, — from  that  mo- 
ment the  success  of  this  great  enterprise  lay  nearest  to  his  heart.  With  a 
most  lucrative  business,  with  a  princely  fortune  at  his  command,  surrounded 
by  ease  and  affluence,  the  moment  the  dark  clouds  began  to  skirt  the  horizon 
his  keen  penetrating  glance  descried  the  commercial  storm  that  was  cominw. 
Then  he  might  have  withdrawn  and  left  the  road  to  its  fate  This  he  scorned 
to  do.  "  I  have  set  my  hand  to  the  plough,"  said  he,  "  and  I  never  look  back." 
Baffled  by  the  luiwise  action  of  less  penetrating  minds,  beset  on  all  sides  by 
revulsion  and  disaster,  he  boldly  and  fearlessly  fought  with  the  tempest,  and 
though  shattered  and  broken,  and  nearly  wrecked,  Henry  D.  Bacon  stands 
this  day  high  among  his  peers,  one  of  the  oldest,  firmest,  and  stanchest 
friends  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad. 

And  now  I  have  a  word  or  two  to  say  to  my  learned  friend,  who  has  o-iven 
us  so  warm  and  cordial  a  welcome  to  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  The  occasion  is  one 
presenting  a  brilliant  opportunity  for  the  elaboration  of  his  favorite  theme — the 
present  and  prospective  prosperity  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  We  have  been 
told  how  interminable  were  its  rivers,  how  broad  and  magnificent  its  prairies, 
how  rich  and  luxuriant  its  soils,  how  inexhau.stible  and  diversified  its  mineral 
resources ;  but,  above  all,  we  have  been  informed  that  the  "  star  of  empire," 
arrested  in  its  giant  march  westward,  has  come  to  a  dead  pause ;  and  now, 
fixed  in  mid-heaven,  sheds  down  its  glorious  beams  from  the  precise  zenith  of 
St.  Louis.  The  Mississippi  Valley  is  one  mighty,  unbounded,  prolific  domain 
of  present  and  future  power,  glory,  and  refinement,  and  St.  Louis  is  its  centre. 

I  cannot  quite  subscribe  to  my  friend's  philosophy.  He  belongs,  I  fear,  to 
the  old  Aristotelian  school,  which  taught  the  doctrine  of  circular  orbits  for 
planetary  movement.  This  fallacy  clung  to  the  human  miud  for  more  than 
two  thousand  years.  (I  trust  the  fallacy  into  which  the  eloquent  Judge  has 
fallen  may  not  endure  as  long.)  When  the  truth  was  at  length  discovered,  it 
was  found  that  not  a  single  circle  existed  in  the  heavens.  Nature  had  adopted 
a  different  curve  in  which  to  drive  her  fiery  chariots  on  their  appointed  routes. 
She  has  selected  the  ellipse,  a  curve  not  with  one  single  centre  like  the  circle, 
but  with  two  j)oinfs  enjoying  precisely  equal  qualities  and  properties,  two  focal 
centres;  and  thus  in  this  mighty  valley  she  has  fixed  her  elliptic  limits,  and 
her  grand  focal  cities ;  the  one  St.  Lotiis,  the  other  Cincinnati ;  and  we  have 
this  day  completed  in  iron  the  gi-aud  axis  of  the  ellipse,  the  Ohio  and  Jlis- 
sissippi  Railway. 

I  cannot  longer  trespass  on  your  patience.  It  is  needless  to  refer  to  the 
wondrous  position  held  by  the  road  whose  completion  we  are  met  to  celebrate. 


244  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILliOAU    OPENING. 

It  holds  indeed  the  gi-and  axial  line.  From  its  eastern  extremity  radiate 
the  iron  tracks  to  every  point  on  the  Alantic  seaboard.  From  its  western 
terminus  starts  the  line  which  sooner  or  later  must  terminate  on  th3  shores  of 
the  Pacific.  Already  radii  are  starting  to  the  south  and  to  the  north — gather- 
ing into  this  n.agnificent  focus  the  rich  and  luxuriant  products  of  this  vast 
and  advancing  region.  I  will  utter  no  predictions  for  the  future.  The  (A) 
Delta  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  is  completed  ;  we  stand  on  the  dividing  line 
of  two  grand  eras.  Let  us  in  quiet  confidence  await  the  actual  development 
of  time. 

"  77ie  Governor  of  Illinois^'''' — the  next  in  order  of  the  regular  toasts 
— was  responded  to  by  ex-Governor  Eeynolds  of  that  State,  wlio  made 
a  happy  address  in  relation  to  the  advantages  of  tlie  railroad  line,  the 
opening  of  which  was  now  being  celebrated. 

'•  The  Goternor  of  Indiana  "  drew  out  Judge  A.  T.  Ellis,  of  Vin- 
cennes,  to  whose  efforts  tlie  country  is  largely  indebted  for  the  early 
progress  and  successful  completion  of  the  Oliio  and  Mississippi  Road. 

"  The  Governor  of  Xeio  Yorh''^  was  responded  to  by  Hon.  Erastus 
Brooks,  who  eloquently  and  effectively  spoke  in  behalf  of  that  State, 
and  in  exemplification  of  what  her  capitalists  and  men  of  enterprise 
had  done  in  rescuing  and  carrying  through  this  great  work. 

''  The  State  of  Missouri''''  was  assigned  for  response  to  Senator 
Polk,  of  Missouri. 

"  The  Army  and  Navy  "  was  arranged  to  be  responded  to  by  Maj. 
Grossman,  U.  S.  A, 

"  The  Mayor  of  Loidsville,''''  called  out  the  Mayor,  W.  S.  Pilcher 
himself. 

"  The  Mayor  of  Cincinnati''^  was  responded  to  by  Mr.  Wm.  J. 
Flagg,  of  the  councils  of  that  city,  as  follows; 

Mr.  Mayor  : — In  reply  to  the  invitation  of  your  city  government,  we  are 
come.  Though  our  chief  is  not  here,  yet  the  representation  is  sufficiently  large 
to  testify  how  we  value  your  invitation.  Our  council  numbers  thirty-four 
members — twenty  of  us  are  here — two  more  than  a  quorum  for  doing  business  ; 
and  so  hearty  is  your  welcome,  so  kind  your  attention,  so  thoroughly  at 
home  do  you  make  us  feel,  that  if  3'ou  don't  look  out  we  shall  be  for  holding  a 
session  in  the  midst  of  you,  and  go  to  work  passing  ordinances,  as  is  our 
habit. 

We  come,  sir,  from  a  place  you  mny  have  heard  of,  called  Cincinnati,  hold- 
ing about  two  hundred  thousand  souls.  I  cannot  give  you  its  exact  latitude 
and  longitude,  but  you'll  find  it  on  any  modern  map.  I  can  tell  you  this  much 
about  its  locality,  that  it  is  some  three  hundred  miles  due  cast  from  here, 
or  ra'hcr  vas  at  that  distance.  Yesterday  the  city  in  question  was  moved 
into  your  immediate  neighborhood  by  the  magic  of  modern  locomotion,  and 
liavlng  become  \'our  near  nciiibbors,  we  have  stepped  over  to-day  to  say  good 
morning,  to  inquire  after  your  Large  family  of  children,  and  to  express  a  hope 


W'lLIIAM     J.     FI.VGIi      SPKAKS     FOli     CINCINNATI.  24d 

for  better  aoquniutance.  Anticipating  your  inquiry  on  that  head,  allow  me  to 
add  that  all  our  children  are  well  and  growing,  I  thank  you. 

Yes,  sir,  we  have  long  been  too  distant  from  you — so  remote,  in  fact,  that 
many  of  the  twenty  I  mentioned,  were  till  yesterday  quite  ignorant  of  western 
matters  and  things — quite  verdant  on  the  subject  of  prairies,  and  wholly  unso- 
phisticated and  fresh  on  the  subject  of  Mississippi  water.  I  for  one,  sir,  for  the 
first  time,  this  morning  set  foot  on  the  banks  of  yonder  big  dritik,  as  the  Indians 
called  it — for  the  first  time  quaffed  its  refreshing  flow,  and  breathed  the  invig- 
orating air  that  moves  upon  its  surface,  like  the  breath  of  the  Great  Spirit, 
moving  upon  the  face  of  the  deep. 

Let  us  be  speedy  to  make  one  another's  acquaintance ;  joined  by  the  bonds 
of  a  permanent  commercial  union,  let  there  be  not  only  mone,^  between  us,  but 
love  also.  Let  each  learn  from  the  other  what  the  other  has  to  teach,  and  the 
spirit  of  generous  emulation  inspire  both  to  move  with  a  swifter  pace  in  the 
quick  march  of  modern  progress.  We,  sir,  on  our  part,  while  reviewing  your 
numerous  public  places  consecrated  I)y  a  wise  forethought  to  fresh  air,  recre- 
ation, and  repose  ;  while  enjoying  ourselves  in  this  delightful  seventy  acres, 
but  last  year  a  cornfield,  now  green  with  sod  and  sparkling  with  fountains, 
where,  in  an  amphitheatre  that  can  hold  fifty  thousand  men,  you  receive  and 
feast  your  guests  in  such  lordly  style,  may  learn  that  dwellers  in  cities  must  not 
necessarily  be  prisoners  in  brick  and  mortar,  but  may  easily  enjoy  all  those 
quiet,  elevating  delights  that  come  from  communion  with  nature,  who,  if  we 
will  only  give  her  space,  will  descend  and  dwell  among  ns — spreading  her 
verdant  carpet  and  erecting  her  shadowy  tent,  while  the  zephyrs  of  Heaven 
descend  to  cool  the  brows  and  gladden  the  hearts  of  the  children  of  men.  And 
you,  sir,  may  learn  from  us,  that  fire  can  be  conquered  by  water  better  than 
by  whisky.  Step  over  aud  we  will  show  you  eight  streams  from  2  k  inch  spouts, 
united  in  one  grand  steam  fountain  that  can  wash  the  horns  of  the  moon  and 
sprinkle  the  stars. 

Sir,  your  reception  is  magnificent ;  it  is  more — it  is  comforting  to  the  in- 
ward parts.  I  have  attended  public  dinners  all  my  life,  and  never,  till  to-day, 
found  any  thing  fit  to  eat.  But  your  board  is  groaning  with  luxuries,  and  the 
feast  has  sparkled,  let  me  say,  with  most  excellent  wine  of  your  own  make. 
Your  greatness  duly  impresses  us.  We  begin  to  realize  somethii;g  of  what 
■we  have  heard.  I  have  listened  with  expanding  ideas  to  the  detail  of  your  re- 
sources, from  the  honored  orator  of  the  day.  He  has  taken  an  arithmetical 
and  geographical  view  of  things,  and  planted  St.  Louis  in  the  centre  of  the 
vast  empire  that  must,  as  I  tnily  believe,  ere  long  make  her  seat  here,  or 
hereabouts,  grasping  an  ocean  in  each  hand,  with  her  feet  upon  the  great  gulf 
of  the  South,  and  holding  on  to  the  north  pole  with  all  her  teeth.  Our  scien- 
tific friend,  Prof  Mitchell,  hailing  from  our  own  promising  little  clearing,  has 
taken,  however,  an  astronomical  view  of  the  subject,  and  informs  us  that,  by 
the  teachings  of  modem  astrouomy,  movement  is  found  to  be,  not  in  a  circle, 
with  just  one  centre,  precisely  in  the  middle,  as  was  taught  by  Ptolemy,  but 
in  the  form  of  an  elongated  cur\-e — an  ellipse — with  two  foci,  or  twin  centres, 
one  of  which  may  be  called  St.  Louis  and  the  other  Cincinnati,  if  you  please. 
I  concur  in  this  view ;  but  if  there  must  be  only  one  centre  of  the  nation,  I 
will  state  my  case  in  the  manner  of  Frederick  the  Great,  who,  when  he  had 
made  up  his  mind  to  shoot  a  man  in  his  army,  not  wishing  to  wound  his  feel- 
ings, would  say,  "mj'good  friend,  either  you  or  I  will  be  shot  about  six  o'clock 
to-morrow  morning."  The  soldier  drew  his  own  inferences.  Now  I  will  say, 
that  the  centre  of  all  things  will  be  either  St.  Louis  or  Cincinnati.  But  with 
this  great  trunk  road  to  unite  us,  with  its   iron  rail  for  a  common   axis  that 


240  GREAT    OMIO     AXD     MISSISSIPPI     RAILROAD     OPENING. 

splits  the  continptit  tliroiigli  the  middle,  so  that  we  can  turn  and  roast  it  like 
a  joint  of  beef  and  eat  it  up  between  us,  why  can't  we  hoth  be  the  centre. 
This  great  trunk  road — aliem — it  may  be  an  excellent  trunk  road,  but  I  can 
tell  you  it's  worth  nothing  for  carpet  baffs;  it  took  mine  back  home  before  I 
got  half  way  here — worse  than  that,  it  conveyed  back,  also,  Mr.  Gould  and  his 
charming  party  who  attempted  to  get  hither  in  that  magical  car,  which  one 
may  well  name  the  wishing  carpet,  after  the  wishing  cai-pet  of  the  Arabian 
tale.     Sorry  am  I  for  one,  he  and  they  and  it  are  not  here  to-day. 

Sir,  let  us  rejoice  together  that  the  men  of  New  York  have  found  their 
profit  in  coming  out  here  and  completing  the  route.  Aspiiiwall,  Chauncey, 
Alsop,  Gould,  Barlow,  Parsons,  and  others,  sitting  in  the  shadow  of  Trinity 
Church  spire,  and  inspired  by  the  clear  logic  and  persuasive  genius  of  Henry 
D.  Bacon,  figured  it  out  arithmetically  that  money  could  be  made  in  the  en- 
terprise, and  thereupon  uniting  together  in  a  simple  partnership  with  a  capital 
of  four  millions,  divided  up,  for  the  benefit  of  their  poorer  associates,  into 
shares  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  each,  they  took  up  the  enteqirise  as  it 
slipped  from  the  feeble  grasp  of  those  who  were  exhausted  in  the  effort,  and 
sooner  than  they  had  promised,  accomplished  the  thing.  But,  while  we  re- 
joice that  there  are  princes  of  money  this  side  the  Atlantic  with  sagacity 
enough  to  foresee  the  profit  of  the  undertaking,  and  gold  to  carry  it  out, — let 
us  also  do  them  the  justice  to  say  that  if  they  had  not  also  possessed  great- 
ness of  soul — capacity  to  feel  the  enthusiasm  such  a  vast  work  like  this  should 
arouse — an  expansion  of  intellect  beyond  the  province  of  mere  money -getting 
— for  years  to  come  the  only  T-rail  between  us  would  have  been  the  old  In- 
dian trail. 

This  is  the  third  time  lately  that  the  Atlantic  has  been  brought  to  kiss 
the  Mississippi.  About  a  year  ago  there  was  a  rallying  call  went  out,  and 
thousands  of  the  powerful  men  and  beautiful  women  of  the  land  made  their 
swift  pilgrimage  to  the  river  at  Rock  Island.  It  was  a  great  affair,  and  they 
had  a  good  time — all  honor  to  Sheffield  &  Farnham,  who  led  it  off.  But  the 
time  was  not  yet.  On  that  occasion  the  North  called  to  the  North,  and  the 
North  answered  again  ;  and  the  North-east  clasped  hands  with  the  North-west. 
A  month  ago  another  call  Avent  forth,  and  the  chivalry  and  beauty  of  the 
South  swept  over  the  land,  bearing  to  the  river  the  waters  of  the  ocean, 
which,  on  the  levee  at  Memphis,  they  spirted  into  the  stream  with  those  little 
toy  affairs  called  hand  fire  engines.  They  were  in  advance  of  us  with  re- 
spect to  time — all  honor  to  them  for  it,,  but  the  time  was  not  yet. 

Again  the  call  goes  out  from  down  East  to  far  West.  Westward  ho !  is 
again  the  cry.  Again  the  cars  are  tied  to  the  steed  that  snorts  but  never  pants. 
Again  the  pas.sengers  are  "  all  aboard  " — again  the  engineer's  foot  is  in  the 
iron  stirrup,  and  his  hand  upon  the  lever  ;  it  is  "  all  right,"  and  "  go  ahead," 
and  we  have  come,  swift  as  the  flight  of  an  eagle,  strong  as  an  armj'  with 
banners,  splendid  as  a  tournament,  grand  as  a  crusade.  Our  banner,  a 
trailing  smoke  cloud,  spangled  with  fire — our  music,  the  voice  of  the  brass 
bugle,  to  wliich  the  steam-god  puts  his  liot  lips  and  blows  a  rereille  to  crea- 
tion. I'hat  bugle  has  sounded ;  by  the  river-side  and  over  the  meadow — 
through  corn-field  and  beside  vine  hill< — sounded  upon  the  dizzy  bridge,  along 
the  steep  ravine — sounded  on  the  rocky  ribs  of  the  Alleghanies  and  among  their 
verberatirig  gorges — .sounded  in  the  bowels  of  the  tunnelled  mountain,  made 
its  echoes  bellow  as  in  pain,  while  at  the  other  side  something  larger  than  a 
mouse  issued  forth  in  liappy  deliverance  and  sped  along  the  curving  trestle  ; 
"  Not  lightsr  does  the  swallow  skim, 
Alonw  the  smooth  lake's  level  brim.'' 


OTHEIi    SPKECIIKS    AT    ST.  JOLIS    FAI  I    GROUNDS.  247 

By  the  Ohio's  margin  that  bugle  has  sounded  ;  on  thi>  prairie  it  has  blown 
defiance  to  the  north-west  wind  "  Kewadlin,''  aul  its  jubihiting  notes  are  only 
now  dying  away  up  and  down  the  Mississippi,  an  1  this  is  the  time  and  the  orci- 
sion.  This  is  what  tlie  others  were  not — the  opening  of  the  mid  Ho  path  of 
the  march  of  empire — the  national  route,  piercing  three  States  called  Soutli- 
ern  and  three  called  Northern,  and  drawing  them  together  as  one.  It  is  the 
medium  line.  Puck,  who  said  he  would  put  a  girdle  about  the  earth,  would 
have  run  it  where  this  line  runs,  for  while  the  breast  may  be  up  North,  an  I 
the  knees  down  South,  the  waist — a  large  and  round  waist  I  allow — is  here. 
Cincinn.'iti,  for  years  switched  off  the  track,  finds  herself  again  in  the  line  of 
the  march  of  empire.  St.  Louis — never  yet  off  tlie  track,  already  is  lookinj; 
westward,  to  lay  it  straight  for  the  setting  sun.  Steamers  shall  track  him 
across  the  Pacific,  and  the  end  is  not  even  at  Whampoa.  No,  and  I  say  to 
all  here  that  I  hope  to  meet  as  many  of  them  as  possible,  at  the  opening  of  the 
great  central  China,  Northern  Hindostan,  and  Southern  Tartary  road,  when 
we'll  astonish  Europe  by  entering  iu  at  her  back  door. 

In  conclusion,  I  give  you,  as  a  toast,  The  Mayor  of  St.  Louis. 

'■*■  The  Mayor  of  Chillicothe.'''' — Mayor  Adams,  of  tlie  "Garden 
City,"  w;is  called  upon,  but  did  not  appear  to  respond. 

"  The  Mayor  of  Baltimore.'''' — IIou.  J.  Morrison  Harris,  of  Balli- 
tnore,  and  John  B.  Seidenstricker,  President  of  the  Second  Branch 
of  the  Councils  of  tliat  city,  were  buth  selected  to  acknowledge  this 
toast;  but  both  had  left  the  stand  before  it  was  given  out. 

''■The  Oldo  and  Mississippi  Railroad  Couifumj''''  was  responded 
to  by  Lewis  B.  Parsons,  the  Financial  Coinuiissioner  of  the  Com- 
pany, in  substance  as  follows  : — 

Mr.  Mayor  and  GExxLEiiEif : — I  deeply  regret  that  the  unexpected  ab- 
sence of  our  Vice-President,  S.  L.  M.  Barlow,  Esq.,  from  whom  I  hoped  you 
would  have  had  an  eloquent  response  to  this  sentiment,  devolves  upon  me  the 
responsibility  of  replying  to  your  call.  Of  the  magnitude  and  importance  ot 
our  enterprise — of  the  ditficulties  and  embarrassments  attendant  upon  the  his- 
tory and  early  progress  of  the  work,  you  have  already  heard  from  the  eloquent 
lips  of  your  distinguished  guests,  Professor  Mitchell,  and  others.  Of  the  later 
history,  though  myself  connected  with  it,  it  may  not  be  imprfiper  for  me  to 
speak,  that  the  just  credit  may  be  given  to  whom  it  properly  belongs,  and  I 
am  sure  that  you,  as  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  will  be  glad  to  know  that  when  two 
years  since  the  progress  of  the  work  was  arrested,  having  embarrassed  and 
prostrated  two  of  your  distinguished  fellow-citizens,  who  had  perilled  their  all 
to  insure  its  succljss,  and  after  many  efforts  had  been  made,  and  many  unsuc- 
cessful plans  proposed  to  push  forward  the  enterprise,  one  of  your  fellow-citi- 
zens again  put  his  hand  to  the  work,  and  after  much  difficulty  succeeded  in 
inducing  his  personal  friends,  the  present  managei-s,  Messrs.  Aspinwall,  Alsop, 
Chauncey,  Comstock,  Leavitt,  Iloadley,  Barlow,  Gould,  Hall,  Lord,  and  others, 
to  undertake  to  finish  the  road  by  the  first  of  November  next. 

These  gentlemen,  as  I  am  well  assured,  took  hold  through  the  solicit.ition 


'J48  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI     RAILROAD     OPENING. 

o  Mr.  Bacon,  and  prompted  by  their  desire  to  aid  his  house  quite  as  much  as 
from  the  expectation  of  a  profitable  specuUition.  Thus,  while  great  credit  is 
due,  as  you  have  heard,  to  other  cities  and  individuals,  I  am  sure  that  the 
completion  of  this  great  trunk  road  to-day,  instead  of  in  years  to  come,  is 
justly  and  fairly  to  be  attributed  to  Henry  D.  Bacon,  Esq. 

Gentlemen,  after  years  of  labor  and  sacrifice,  this  great  arterial  line  of  road 
is  completed,  and  we  are  met  from  all  parts  of  our  common  country  to  ex- 
change kindly  greetings  and  mutual  gratulations  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Father  of  Waters.  You  have  come  in  a  multitude  to  this  geographical  centre 
of  our  country.  You  have  passed  by  thousands  over  our  work.  You  have 
seen  our  prairies  in  the  full  bloom  of  spring.  You  have  seen  our  towns,  and 
witnessed  the  changes  of  a  few  years — have  participated  in  the  festivities  of 
the  occasion,  and  experienced  something  of  the  hospitalities  and  Union-loving 
feelings  of  our  two  great  central  cities  of  the  Mississippi  basin,  and  I  am  sure, 
when  you  shall  have  returned  to  the  quiet  of  your  own  distant  homes,  you 
will  feel  that,  however  separated  we  may  be  by  distance  and  sectional  lines, 
we  are  still  of  one  origin — one  family — and  bound  together,  not  alone  by  a 
unity  of  interest  and  iron  bands,  but  by  the  stronger  and  the  silken  cords  of 
riendsbip  and  kindness.  Then,  myself  and  associates  feel,  that  whatever 
have  been  our  labor,  our  cares  and  anxieties,  in  carrying  out  this  excursion 
trip,  our  efforts  have  met  with  the  most  ample  reward. 

'■•  llie  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad''''  was  responded  to  by  Mr. 
Ritchie,  of  Frederick,  Md.,  in  the  absence  from  the  stand  of  General 
Win.  Lingan  Gaitlier,  one  of  the  Directors  of  the  i-oad,  who  was  se- 
lected by  his  associates  to  j)erforin  the  duty. 

"  The  President  and  Directors  of  the  great  Trunh  Line  Railroad, 
tchich  connects  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific ;''''  responded  to  by  W.  D.  Wal- 
lacli,  editor  of  the  Washington  Star,  who  made  a  happy  and  eft'ective 
speech,  in  -which  he  spoke  at  length  of  the  strong  points  presented  in 
the  great  trunk  line  over  which  he  had  just  travelled  so  pleasantly,  and 
told  his  auditors  that  he  was  brought  up  a  civil  engineer,  and  was  the 
better  able,  therefore,  to  give  an  opinion  upon  the  subject  of  the  toast. 
"  The  Press  ;''"'  assigned  to  Hon.  Erastus  Brooks,  of  the  New  York 
Express. 

"  The  Ladies ;  "  responded  to  by  Win.  Pinkney  Whyte,  of  Balti- 
more, whose  ertbrt  was  pronounced  one  of  the  most  original  and  tell- 
ing that  the  occasion  drew  forth. 

After  several  humorous  allusions,  he  briefly  referred  to  many  examples  of 
woman's  heroism  and  devotion.  But,  said  he,  women  were  formed  for  love. 
Oh !  what  illustrations,  in  tradition  and  in  story  are  given  of  their  undying  de- 
votion ;  their  patient  suffering,  and  their  long-tried  suspense.  Who  does  not 
remember  Heloise,  who,  amid  all  her  trials  and  sorrows,  clung  with  such  love 


MEETING    OF    NEW    YORK    GUESTS THE    ARRANGEMENTS.       249 

to  Abelard?  Have  you  not  read  the  story  of  Evangeline,  weary  and  with 
bleeding  feet,  traversing  this  snow-covered  wilderness  in  search  of  licr  lost 
Gabriel  ?     These  are  t^'pes  of  woman's  afiection. 

Again,  he  said,  how  do  they  light  up  and  radiate  our  homes  ?  A  house, 
uuchecred  by  them,  seems  but  a  furnished  sepulchre.  We  cannot  live  without 
them — 

"As  inito  the  bow  the  cord  is, 

So  unto  the  man  is  woman  ; 

Though  she  bends  him,  she  obeys  him ;   ' 

Though  she  draws  him,  yet  she  follows ; 

Useless  each,  without  the  other." 

Night  was  now  approaching,  and  the  company  left  the  grounds  to 
return  to  the  city.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  the  liotels  were  not  sufficient 
to  accommodate  a  tenth  of  the  strangers  in  town.  Resort  was  ac- 
cordingly had  to  private  hospitality,  and  soon  every  body  was  com- 
fortably provided  for  in  the  families  of  generous  and  wealthy  citizens 
wlio  exhausted  every  eftbrt  to  enhance  the  pleasure  and  gratification 
of  all. 

The  general  formal  ceremonies  of  the  occasion  were  now  over,  and 
accordingly  the  New  Yorkers,  who  had  participated  therein,  called  a 
meeting  to  express  their  sentiments  of  grateful  appreciation  of  the 
perfection  of  the  festival.  The  following  are  the  proceedings  of  this 
meeting  as  officially  published. 

At  a  meeting  of  citizens  of  New  York,  held  at  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  June  5, 
1857,  on  motion  of  John  P.  Crosby,  seconded  by  Capt.  Comstock,  of  the 
United  States  mail  steamer  Baltic,  Charles  Tracy  was.  chosen  Chairman,  and 
Oliver  De  Forest  Grant,  Secretary.  On  motion  of  Hon.  Erastus  Brooks,  sec- 
onded by  Caleb  O.  Halstead,  it  was 

Hesolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  citizens  of  New  York,  present  at  the 
Railroad  Celebration  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  this  day,  be  gratefully  tendered 
to  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  Company, 
for  their  courtesy  and  kindness  to  us  and  liberal  provision  for  our  comfort  and 
gratification  during  the  excursion  ;  and  that  we  congratulate  not  only  the 
Company,  but  the  East  and  the  West,  and  the  whole  land,  upon  the  nuccessful 
achievement  of  their  great  enterprise. 

On  motion  of  Silas  Brown,  seconded  by  Henry  T.  Vail,  it  was  further 
Resolved,  That  our  heartfelt  thanks   be   tendered  to  the  authorities  and 
citizens  of  St.  Louis,  for  their  bountii'ul  hospitality  which   we  have  enjoyed 
during  our  sojourn  in  their  beautiful  and  prosperous  city. 

On  motion»of  Robert  H.  McCurdy,  seconded  by  Capt.  Morgan,  of  the  Lon- 
don line  of  packets,  it  was 

Hesolved,  That  the  foregoing  resolutions  be  published  in  the  city  papers. 

Chakles  Tr.Ac  y,  Chairman. 
0.  De  F.  Grant,  Secretary. 
11" 


250  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

In  tlie  evening  tlie  entire  city  was  illuminated  brilliantly,  the 
theatres  were  opened  to  the  guests,  and  many  of  the  most  eminent 
citizens  gave  private  entertainments.  The  hospitalities  of  the  city  of 
St.  Louis,  in  all  respects,  were  on  a  scale  of  unparalleled  liberality, 
cliaracterized  by  excellent  taste,  and  a  geniality  which  made  all  the 
strangers  feel  at  liome.  The  people  vied  with  one  another  to  make 
tlie  most  favorable  and  permanent  impression  on  the  hearts  and 
memories  of  their  visitors,  and  they  succeeded.  The  impression 
which  was  thus  produced  should  be  worth  millions  to  their  enter- 
prising city.  Mr.  Bacon,  the  popular  and  courteous  banker  of  St. 
Louis,  who  risked  a  princely  fortune  in  this  road,  was  the  mainspring 
of  the  grand  entertainment  at  St.  Louis. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  accorded  to  the  principal  officers  and  Di- 
rectors of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  road,  who  were  present  at  the  fes- 
tival. Wra.  H.  Clement,  the  General  Superintendent,  who  had  but  just 
entered  upon  his  responsible  duties,  deserves  special  praise  for  the  com- 
plete success  of  his  first  official  action  in  transporting  tlie  enormous 
crowds  over  his  new  road  with  such  promptness  and  safety.  Mr. 
Charles  Gould,  the  Treasurer;  Mr.  Parsons,  the  Financial  Manager; 
Mr.  S.  L.  M.  Barlow,  one  of  the  Directors,  and  other  gentlemen  con- 
nected with  the  road,  were  incessant  in  their  etforts  to  render  the 
affiiir  brilliant,  agreeable  and  memorable,  and  such  it  must  ever  be  in 
the  recollections  of  all  who  had  the  good  fortune  to  participate  in  it. 
And  every  gentleman  and  lady  who  particii)ated  in  the  excursion  from 
Baltimore  to  St.  Louis  seemed  to  feel  a  hearty  satisfaction  in  thanking 
the  officers  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Eailroad,  whose  attentions  and 
exertions — and  which  were  unabated  even  as  far  as  St.  Louis — to  pro 
mote  the  comfort  of  all,  were  highly  extolled. 


THE 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF    1857. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

THE  SECOND  DAY'S  CELEBEATION  AT  ST.  LOUIS. 

As  we  liave  alread}'  stated,  the  following  morning,  Saturday,  June 
6tli,  brought  to  the  city  ot  St.  Louis  another  large  instalment  of  ex- 
cursionists, who  had  supposed  that  the  St.  Louis  ceremonies  would  not 
take  place  till  the  following  Monday.  Much  disappointment  was  ex- 
pressed by  many  of  the  party  wlien  they  learned  what  they  had  missed ; 
but  an  hour  or  two  in  the  liands  of  the  hospitable  people  of  St.  Louis 
])ut  all  in  good  humor,  and  prepared  them  to  enjoy  the  festivities  still 
in  store  for  them,  and  which  were  at  once  decided  upon  for  their 
benefit. 

During  the  day,  the  Baltimore  Band  visited  the  armory  of  the 
National  Guard,  by  invitation  of  Captain  Pritchard,  where  a  number 
of  the  guests  of  the  city,  chietly  Baltimoreans,  were  also  assembled, 
and  an  animated  and  pleasant  communion  was  enjoyed.  The  entire 
company  was  bounteously  regaled  by  the  gallant  officers  of  this  spirited 
corps,  whose  armory  and  other  appointments  were  much  admired. 

Early  in  the  evening  of  Saturday,  the  Independent  Blues'  Band  of 
Baltimore — whose  performances  had  elicited  general  notice  among 
the  citizens  and  strangers  —  gave  a  public  concert  upon  the  bal- 
cony of  the  New  Court  House  on  Fourth-street,  and  were  listened 
to  by  a  great  throng  of  people.  Upon  both  Friday  and  Saturday 
nights,  the  same  band,  under  the  pioneership  of  the  Baltimore  visit- 
ors, serenaded  a  number  of  the  most  active  and  prominent  citizens, 
to  whom  they  felt  themselves  indebted  for  their  kind  treatment 
in  St.  Louis.  Among  the  gentlemen  thus  complimented  were  lion. 
John  W.  Wimer,  Mayor,  George  R.  Taylor,  William  Wade,  J.  E.Elder 


252  GREAT     OHIO     AND    MISSISSIPPI    KAILKOAD     OPENING. 

(formerly  of  Baltimore),  Judge  Bates,  H.  D.  Bacon,  and  "William  H, 
Clement. 

Early  on  Saturday  evening  a  general  meeting  of  Eastern  guests, 
■who  had  come  by  the  Baltimore  route,  was  held  in  the  Mercantile  Li- 
brary Buildings;  the  proceedings  at  which  were  thus  officially  an- 
nounced in  the  St.  Louis  papers  of  the  following  Monday,  viz. : 

In  accordance  with  a  published  call,  the  excursionists  who  came  to  this 
city  by  the  way  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  Marietta  and  Cinciimati  (or  Balti- 
more and  Ohio,  Central  Ohio,  and  the  Little  Miama,  via  Wheeling  and  Colum- 
bus), and  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railways,  held  a  meeting  Saturday  night 
at  the  Mercantile  Libraiy  Hall,  in  order  to  give  some  expression  of  feeling  in 
response  to  the  many  courtesies  received  from  the  Managers  of  the  mentioned 
roads. 

On  motion  of  W.  P.  Whyte,  Esq.,  of  Baltimore,  H.  N.  Gallagher,  Esq.,  of 
Charlestown,  Va.,  was  called  to  the  chair. 

The  following  gentlemen,   on  motion,  were  appointed  as  Vice  Presidents 

and  Secretaries. 

Vice  Presidents. 

Hon.  Erastus  Brooks,  New  York.  Edward  Shriver,  Md. 

"     Philip  F.  Thomas,  Md.  Hon.  Jno.  L.  Hodge,  D.  C. 

"     Fayette  M'Mullen,  Va.  "     Chas.  A.  Phelps,  Mass. 

"     J.  M.  Harris,  Md.  "     (Ex.  Gov.)  H.  Dutton,  Conn. 

Secretaries. 

J.  R.  Thompson,  Esq.,  Va,  Ed.  Fulton,  Esq.,  Md. 

Wm.  Pakker,  Esq.,  Boston. 

On  motion  of  W.B.  Shaw,  Esq.,  D.C.,  the  Chairman  appointed  a  Committee 
on  Resolutions,  as  follows  : 

\V.  B.  Shaw,  of  D.  C;  W.  H.  Travers,  of  Md.  ;  J.  W.  Simonton,  ofN.  Y. ; 
Paul  Cooke,  Esq.,  of  Va.  ;  Hon.  Chas.  A.  Phelps,  of  Mass. 

After  retiring  for  a  few  moments,  the  Committee  returned  and  reported  the 
following  Resolutions : 

Resolutions  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the  Excursionists  from  the  Eastern 
States,  who  left  Baltimore  to  celebrate  the  opening  of  the  Marietta  and  Cin- 
cinnati, and  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroads  : 

Resolved,  That  the  completion  of  the  several  lines  of  railway  between  Balti- 
more and  St.  Louis,  over  which  we  have  passed  with  such  speed,  safety  and 
comfort,  constitutes  a  result  of  truly  national  importance,  forming  as  they  do 
a  short  and  direct  route  between  the  Atlantic  Sea  and  the  commercial  centres 
of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  valleys — Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis 

Resolved,  That  the  good  practical  mantigement,  the  stupendous  engineering 
triumphs,  and  the  sublime  natural  scenery,  which  characterize  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Road,  render  it  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  valuable  of  all  our 
internal  improvements. 


MEETING    OF    EASTERN    EXCURSIONISTS — RE.sOLLTIONS,  253 

Resolved,  That  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati,  and  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
Koads,  which  continue  the  southern  ann  of  this  great  avenue  to  tlie  central 
west,  are  destined  to  become  a  grand  tnnik  h'ne,  extending  not  only  I'rom  the 
Atlantic  to  the  ''  Father  of  Waters,"  l)nt  even  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific 
Sea. 

Resolved,  That  the  generous  hospitality  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  Marietta 
and  Cincinnati,  and  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Roads,  and  also  of  the  citizens  of 
Chillicothe,  Cinciiuiati  and  Vincennes,  commands  and  receives  our  warmest 
acknowledgment. 

Resolved,  That  the  boundless  liberality  shown  in  our  overwhelming  recep- 
tion and  kind  treatment  by  the  people  of  St.  Louis,  marks  them  as  a  communi- 
ty of  1  are  generosity,  which  will  be  ever  held  in  our  most  grateful  remem- 
hrauce. 

The  Resolutions  were  passed  without  a  dissenting  voice. 
The  following  was  offered  by  William  P.  Whyte,  Esq.,  of  Baltimore,  as  an 
additional  Resolution,  and  was  passed  unanimously  : 

Resolved,  That  our  thanks  are  due  and  hereby  tendered  to  those  Railway 
Companies  who  have  in  their  generosity  tendered  to  us  a  free  passage  over 
their  roads  to  and  from  St.  Louis. 

The  object  of  the  meeting  being  accomplished,  it  then  adjourned. 

Notwithstanding  the  guests  who  arrived  on  Saturday  morning  liad 
all  been  comfortably  provided  for  by  the  Committee  of  Arrangement.*, 
the  citizens  felt  it  would  be  agreeable  to  them,  and  consonant  with  the 
sentiments  of  hospitality  abounding  in  the  city,  to  extend  to  them  in 
some  shape  a  public  reception.  It  was  presumed  the  visitors  would  pass 
the  day  in  sight-seeing,  in  rambles  through  the  city  and  into  suburbs. 
The  weatlier  was  inviting  to  sucli  occui)ation,  and  was  so  employed. 
The  committees  accordingly  devoted  the  evening  of  Saturday  to  tiie 
public  reception,  and  gave  notice  of  the  fact  to  visitors  and  citizens 
generally,  by  placards  throughout  the  city,  and  by  publication  in  the 
afternoon  papers,  indicating  tiiat  there  would  be  a  gathering  at  the 
Varieties  Theatre  of  all  the  excursionists  who  had  honored  St.  Louis 
with  their  presence. 

At  eiglit  in  the  evening  the  Theatre  was  found  brilliantly  illu- 
minated, and  the  parquette  rapidly  filling  witli  visitors  and  citizens. 
By  half-past  eight  the  seats  were  all  occupied,  and  by  nine  the  house 
"was  packed  with  thousands,  mostly  strangers,  who  had  been  sum- 
moned by  the  public  notice.  A  finer  and  more  intelligent-looking  as- 
semblage of  men  Ave  never  remember  to  liave  seen.  In  the  boxes  were 
numerous  ladies,  who  added  to  the  graceful  amenities  of  the  occasion 
by  their  always  welcome  presence,  and  inspired  many  a  well  turned 
sentence  that  felHrom  the  lips  of  the  eloquent  speakers  of  the  even- 


'254  GREAT    UHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENINU. 

Mayor  Wiraer  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Henry  D.  Bacon, 
of  St.  Louis,  and  Professor  O.  M.  Mitchell,  of  Cincinnati,  were  ap- 
pointed Vice  Presidents. 

The  Mayor  then  announced  to  the  assembled  throng  that  Cliarles 
D.  Drake,  of  St.  Louis,  had  been  selected  to  make  the  opening 
speech  of  welcome.  Mr.  D.  was  received  with  loud  applause,  and 
spoke  as  follows : 

I  can  truly  say  that  this  is  my  first  appearance  on  any  stage ;  and  I  am 
afraid  that  you  will  as  truly  have  occasion  to  say,  after  I  have  got  through  ^ 
that  my  fate,  on  this,  my  first  appearance  on  the  stage,  is  that  of  debutants 
generally.  I  am  forcibly  reminded  at  this  moment  of  a  juvenile  failure,  many 
years  ago — how  many  I  would  not  like  fb  tell  before  so  many  ladies — when  I 
essayed,  before  a  large  audience,  to  recite  that  celebrated  exercise,  begin- 
ning— 

"  TouM  scarce  expect  one  of  my  age 

To  speak  in  public  on  the  stage." 

And  if  I  should  be'-  as  unfortunate  now  as  then,  I  call  all  here  assembled  to 
witness,  that  it  is  altogether  due  to  my  honorable  friend,  the  Mayor  of  this 
city,  who,  less  than  five  minutes  ago,  on  my  entering  the  house  as  a  mere 
spectator,  ruthlessly  bade  me  "  stand  and  deliver" — not  that  trash,  my  purse, 
but  something  more  pleasant,  if  not  more  easy,  to  deliver — a  word  of  welcome 
to  the  guests  present  here  this  evening.     (Applause.) 

Friends  from  abroad  !  If  it  were  my  duty  now  to  strew  intellectual  thunder- 
bolts in  your  midst,  no  time  has  been  allowed  me  to  forge  them,  even  if  I  pos- 
sessed the  power  ;  but  it  is  fortunate — very  fortunate — under  circumstances 
like  the  present,  that  the  heart  can  speak,  though,  perhaps,  the  mind  falter, 
(applause)  and  that  the  language  of  the  heart  can  reach  the  heart,  when  that 
proceeding  from  the  cold  fountain  of  the  mind  might  fail  to  do  so ;  and  under 
the  impulse  of  a  feeling  that  must  needs  find  expression,  I  say  to  you,  the 
guests  of  our  city,  come  to  this  Western  shore  of  the  Father  of  Waters  to  see 
us  and  let  us  see  you — you  are  welcome,  thrice  welcome,  in  our  midst.  .Some 
of  you,  I  learn,  have  been  a  little  late  in  arriving;  but  in  this  instance,  as  in 
matrimony  with  an  old  bachelor  or  old  maid,  "  better  late  than  never."  (Loud 
applause.)  We  would  have  been  pleased  to  see  you  yesterday,  but  we  are 
none  the  less  pleased  to  see  you  to-day.     (Applattse.) 

When  you  from  the  Atlantic  coast  come  to  this — not  as  you  may  have 
heard  it  called,  and  may  be  yourselves  accustomed  to  call  it,  ''  Far  West,"  but 
as  we  call  it,  and  as  it  is — great  Centre  of  our  Country,  you  see  that  which 
repays  for  so  long  a  journey ;  for,  whether  realized  or  not,  you  begin,  in  the 
good  hour  when  you  look  your  first  upon  the  turbid  waters  of  the  Mississippi, 
to  see  the  world  for  the  first  time.  (Immense  applause.)  Do  not  suppose  that 
I  would  disparage  your  Eastern  homes.    I  love  the  whole  country  of  which  we 


WELCOME    BY     CHARLES    D.  DRAKE. Jl'DGE    BLACk's    SPEECH.    2.50 

are  children.  I  love  not  the  East  less,  but  the  Centre  more.  And  here,  in  this 
great  central  valley,  is  the  future  and  not  distant  seat  of  power  in  these 
United  States.     (Cheers.) 

To  this  region,  my  friends,  there  is,  if  its  occupants  be  true  to  themselves 
and  their  country,  a  future  more  wonderful  than  for  any  other  portion  of  the 
earth.  You  have  just  traversed  by  the  almost  new-born  power  of  steam  the 
boundless  prairies,  whose  virgin  bosoms  have  but  just  begun  to  give  evidence  of 
capacity  to  produce  food  sufficient  for  a  world.  How  the  thought  enlarges  and 
expands,  as  we  look  upon  those  oceans  of  affluent  earth,  and  tlunk  what  this 
valley  will  be,  when  it  comes  to  be  peopled  in  luimbers  as  Europe  is  peopled 
now,  and  when  these  nimibers  shall  be,  not  ignorant  and  unaspiring  vassals, 
but  intelligent,  uidustrious,  energetic,  and  patriotic  freemen !  It  is  no  exag- 
geration to  say  that  the  mind  can,  in  this  day,  form  no  conception  of  what 
this  country  will  be  in  that  future ;  we  only  know  it  will  be  something  more, 
something  beyond,  something  above  what  has  ever  before  been  known — some- 
thing beyond  and  above  what  can,  in  the  nature  of  things,  be  known  elsewhere. 
AVe  welcome  you,  then,  to  a  region  of  which  we  have  no  right  to  be  proud, 
save  as  we  have  improved  it,  but  for  which  we  and  you  alike  should  ever  be 
thankful  to  the  Great  Giver,  who  has  in  His  goodness  bestowed  on  us  and 
our  children — let  us  hope  and  believe  to  the  latest  generation — this  beautiful 
and  glorious  valley  home.     (Loud  applause.) 

Just  in  proportion  as  this  great  Central  Valley  is  reduced  to  cultivation, 
and  filled  with  a  people  virtuous,  high-minded,  and  aspiring  for  good ;  just  in 
proportion  as  that  people  are  devoted  to  their  country,  and  loyal  to  its  Consti- 
tution, and,  above  all,  deathlessly  bound  in  heart  and  life  to  the  union  of  these 
States ;  just  in  that  proportion  will  they  meet  the  demand  which  humanity 
has  a  right  to  make  upon  them  for  the  privilege  of  living  and  dying  on  this 
central  soil  of  the  continent. 

But,  my  friends,  if  a  man  begins  to  talk  of  this  valley,  he  will  find,  if  he 
has  any  thought,  that  his  talk  will  be  like  the  ceaseless  flow  of  that  mighty 
river  that  nms  by  our  border  ever  and  ever,  from  its  source  in  the  clime  of  ice 
and  snow  to  its  ocean  outlet  in  the  land  of  sunshine  and  of  flowers.  Leaving, 
then,  a  theme  which  I  confess  has  to  me  exhaustless  fascination,  I  return  to 
the  occasion  of  my  appearing  before  you,  and  once  more,  in  the  name  of  the 
Mayor  and  the  Council  of  this  City — in  the  name  of  the  men  of  St.  Louis,  and 
of  its  fairer  and  better  portion — in  the  name  of  each  and  all,  I  bid  you,  each 
and  all,  a  heartfelt  and  cordial  welcome.  (Mr.  D.  retired  amid  a  perfect 
thunder  of  applause.) 

Judge  Black,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  called  upon  to  respond  as  one 
of  tlie  guests  from  the  great  Keystone  State.     He  said : — 

Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen : — I  confess  myself  touched  by  an 
embarrassment,  not  common  to  me,  in  being  presented  in  this  strange  and  un- 


25G  GREAT    OHIO     AND    MIS>ISSI  IM'I     RAILROAD     OPENING. 

usual  manner  before  you.  For  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  have  paid  a  visit  to  the 
city  of  St.  Louis,  and  after  travelling  days  and  nights,  when  tired  nature  should 
have  sought  the  sweet  restoration  of  balmy  sleep,  I  find  myself  upon  my  feet, 
led  away  by  sweet  resistless  curiosity  and  unbounded  admiration  to  wander 
through  the  streets  of  your  great  and  glorious  city.  (Applause.)  If  my  speech  is 
half  as  dry  as  I  am,  it  will  be  dull  enough,  I  assure  you.  (Laughter.)  I  under- 
stand that  it  is  my  duty  to  reply  as  best  I  can  to  the  eloquent  and  touching 
words  of  kindness  which  have  been  uttered  in  behalf  of  you  who  reside  here, 
to  the  strangers  who  came  here  during  a  portion  of  to-day,  and  who,  before 
their  footsteps  touched  the  pavement,  found  themselves  strangers  no  more,  but 
all  of  them  at  home  and  in  the  bosom  of  their  friends.  (Cheers.)  Why 
should  we  thank  you  for  the  welcome  ?  I  am  set  up  here  to  do  it — to  thank 
you  who  are  kind  because  you  can't  help  it,  who  are  generous  because  it  is 
your  nature ;  it  springs  out  by  involuntary  contribution  to  those  that  touch  the 
centre  of  your  city.     (Loud  cheering.) 

The  time  was  when  we,  that  were  bom  near  the  foot  of  the  Alleghany 
mountains,  felt  ourselves  distant  from  the  shores  of  the  INIissouri  and  Missis- 
sippi, and  we  looked  with  a  wondering  curiosity,  as  if  our  children  or  our  chil- 
dren's children  after  us  might  possibly,  some  time  or  other,  be  on  the  prairie 
beholding  the  peaks  of  the  distant  mountains  that  are  named  by  their  rocks. 
But  now  what  is  it?  Why  we  are  all  brought  together— our  proximity  is  as 
near  as  a  neighborhood  of  men  who,  in  the  centre  of  Pennsylvania  thirty  years 
ago,  went  upon  horseback  to  the  same  church  or  chapel.  See  the  lessons 
of  admonishing  beauty  that  have  beeen  taught  us  all,  by  our  mother  nature. 
There  are  but  two  barriers  worth  considering  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
oceans.  They  are  the  Alleghanies  and  Kocky  Mountains,  and  yet  look  at 
the  out-speaking  developments  of  the  origin  of  the  streams  that  start  from 
their  summit,  both  within  a  stone's  throw,  the  one  of  the  other.  The  Juniata 
starts  from  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Alleghany,  and  rushes  on  until  it  is  lost  in 
the  Susquehanna,  and  they  are  both  brought  into  the  Chesapeake  Bay. 
Within  a  stone's  throw  of  its  fountain  head,  the  Conneaut  starts  westward,  it 
wanders  into  the  Castleman,  rushes  into  the  Monongahela,  into  the  head-waters 
of  the  Ohio,  and  they,  together,  sink  into  the  sweet  embraces  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, dying  in  delightful  fellowship  together  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  (Ap- 
plause.) And  your  own  Missouri,  with  the  first  expectation  of  her  opening 
eye-sight,  lifts  her  mourning  eyes  to  look  at  the  rising  sun  in  the  east,  and 
from  the  eastern  side  of  the  Kocky  Mountains,  wanders  its  way,  until  before 
your  doors,  running  eagerly  to  shake  hands  with  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to- 
gether ;  and,  a  less  distance  on  the  western  side  than  the  feeblest  voice  in  this 
hall  could  be  heard,  the  great  Columbia,  and  that  rolling,  nmning  and  con- 
tinuing and  spreading,  becomes  in  itself  a  young  sea,  and  it  is  lost  at  last  in 
the  great  oco'an  of  peace  to  which  the  eyes  of  the  setting  sun,  and  hopes  of  the 
rising  world,  are  with  one  accord  directed. 


.H-DGK    black's    SPEEC!'.  257 

Now  these,  in}-  friemls  and  fellow-citizens,  are  the  thoughts  of  nature  ; 
they  have  all  come  upon  me,  tor  I  am  a  child  of  nature — if  I  am  not,  I  do  not 
know  wliat  I  am,  for  I  am  sure  I  am  not  the  child  of  any  thing  else — and  when 
I  hear  it  said  that  the  end  of  man  in  constructincj  railroads  is  interfering  with 
the  order  and  ordination  of  nature,  I  am  always  inclined  to  answer  "  no,  but 
he  carries  out  the  very  great  design  that  nature  herself  laid  down  in  letters  of 
running  and  living  light  writ  upon  everj'  stream."  That  man  thus  follows  on 
in  the  great  tide  of  human  glory  and  improvement.  (Cheers.)  Every  railroad 
is  a  help  to  every  river,  every  river  and  stream  points  out  to  the  genius  of  man 
the  track  and  path  of  some  formed,  or  to  be  formed,  improvement  in  the  shape 
of  a  railroad. 

Then,  again,  the  moral  and  gentle  Christian  lesson  that  is  taught  to  us  all 
in  the  little  stream,  east  of  the  Alleghany,  and  the  lesser  stream  west  of  the 
Alleghany.  They  pursue  their  pathless  way,  along  and  find  at  last  the  same 
cradle  and  the  same  grave  in  the  bosom  of  the  common  ocean,  which  is  the 
mirror  of  our  Father  the  Almighty,  (cheers,)  and  railroads  direct  their  at- 
tention in  a  straight  line  from  a  point  in  the  east  to  a  point  in  the  west, 
and  from  a  point  in  the  north  to  a  point  in  the  south,  and  we  all  say  that 
these  are  bonds  of  iron  that  hold  us  together.  They  are  in  a  measure  the 
bonds  by  which  we  are  bound  together,  but  we  must  all  recollect  that  these 
roads  are  worthless,  unless  the  cross-ties  that  bind  them  are  sure.  And  let  us 
of  the  West  not  forget — for  in  twenty-four  hours  I  have  got  to  be  all  West  my- 
self— let  us  not  forget  that  while  these  are  great  iron  bonds  that  hold  the 
American  Union  together,  that  the  bonds  cannot  remain  without  the  cros-ties 
keep  them  close  together  and  strong. 

Why,  my  friends,  the  gentleman  who  introduced  us  all  to  your  kind  atten- 
tion— my  friend — spoke  to  you  of  thunderbolts  of  intellect  and  of  power.  It 
struck  me  at  the  moment  that  he  alluded  to  thunder  as  an  element  of  power, 
that  we  are,  as  we  look  from  tlie  mountains  of  the  East  to  the  great  mountains 
of  th3  West,  as  the  poet  sang  to  us,  as  the  whirling  cars  rolled  their  perilous 
Avay  along,  that  we  could  hear  the  voice  of  the  poet  say  to  us :  "  Here,  com- 
munion is  perfect ;  here  union  of  heart  with  each  other  is  complete,''  in  the 
voice  of  a  general  and  overwhelming  melody;  and  we  have,  as  we  sing  the 
song  that  brought  smiles  and  sweet  looks  of  women,  God's  ordination  for  our 
safety  upon  the  earth,  (loud  applause,)  we  have  their  sweet  smiles  to  cheer  us 
all  along.  ("Applause.)  The  voice  to  which  I  have  alluded,  you  will  re- 
member, related  to  a  thunder  storm,  but  we  can  apply  it  to  the  song  of  im- 
provement. 

Professor  Mitchell,  of  Cincinnati,  who  spoke  so  eftectively  at  the 
fair  grounds,  was  now  vociferously  called  fur,  and  on  at  length  rising, 
was  greeted  with  apjilause.  Rut  when  the  audience  became  expect- 
ant,  he  said   that,   being  so  well  known  in  St.  Louis,  and  to  must 


258  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

present,  he  thought  that  others  ought  to  liave  the  precedence,  and 
must,  therefore,  excuse  liitnself — upon  wliicli  he  called  for 

Hon.  James  Brooks,  of  Xew  York,  wlio,  he  understood,  was  pres- 
ent. All  eyes  then  hunted  for  Mr.  Brooks,  and  he  at  length  appeared 
in  the  second  tier  t»f  hoxes,  and  approached  the  front.  He  and  the 
ladies  appeared  to  be  mutually  conscious  of  their  elevated  position. 
When  sufficient  time  had  elapsed  for  the  fact  to  become  also  impressed 
upon  the  audience,  Mr.  B.  entered  upon  a  graceful,  pertinent,  and 
nnion-loving  preamble,  the  alternating  wit  and  pathos  of  wh'ch  charm- 
ed anew  the  hearts  of  the  ladies.  He  very  humorously  dwelt  upon 
the  fact  that  he  was  at  that  moment  in  the  outslcirts  of  civilization — 
alluding  to  the  circumstance  of  his  being  surrounded  by  a  company  of 
ladies  spreading  with  all  the  indefinable  dimensions  of  crinoline  and 
hoops, — and  then  passed  on  to  a  stirring  railroad  speech,  which 
brought  down  the  house  with  rousing  cheers. 

He  dwelt  upon  the  West — and  comically  set  forth  a  search  he  had  made 
for  that  "  West ''  in  only  IS-tO.  What  was  "  West  "  then  is  East  now,  down 
East — even  here  in  St.  Louis,  where  soon'all  the  people  will  be  talking  through 
their  nose  in  genuine  Yankee  twang.  New  York  and  St.  Louis,  quite  subm'bs 
now,  are  only  a  good  omnibus  ride  apart.  The  railroad  to-day  linked  them  in 
ron  together,  but  if  that  had  failed  there  was  the  lightning  bond  of  the  tele- 
graph, that  made  us  tick  in  tune,  and  as  these  joined  us  together,  so  joined 
they  all  the  parts  and  States  of  this  mighty  Union.  When  there  were  only 
thirteen  States  in  1776,  they  were  much  farther  apart  than  now  in  1857 — for 
distance — intellectual  distance  was  not  in  miles  or  space,  but  in  thought,  feel- 
ing, sympathy ;  and  in  this  sympathy  the  railroad  and  telegraph  are  now 
making  us  one  people,  one  State.  Hence  whatever  disunionists  or  sectional- 
ists  may  do  or  say — the  more  they  try  to  tear  us  apart,  the  more  the  iron 
road  and  lightning  wire  must  bind  us  together.  We  shall  then  trade  and  in- 
tertrade  the  closer,  marry  and  intermarry  the  more,  and  soon  interests,  hearts 
or  passions  will  heal  up  all  the  wounds  we  suffer  or  suppose  we  suffer  in 
the  strain  upon  the  Constitution  of  the  State. 

The  Hon.  J.  Morrison  Harris,  one  of  the  Members  of  Congress  for 
the  city  and  County  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  was  next  called  fi)r  and 
introduced.  Mr.  Harris  was  also  very  warmly  received,  and  delivered 
a  beautiful  speecli,  whicli  was  substantially  as  follows  : 

Mr.  Chair.man,  and  Citizexs  of  St.  Louis  : — I  had  posted  myself  in  a  re- 
mote part  of  the  hall,  to  see  and  hear  the  very  interesting  ceremonies  of  this 
evening,  and  did  not  suppose  that  I  should  be  called  upon  to  take  any  direct 
part  in  what  was  going  on  around  me.  I  cannot,  however,  refuse  to  respond 
to  your  call,  or  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  saying  how  glad  I  am  to  be  with 
you  to-night.     For  the  first  time  my  feet  press  the  soil  of  the  Great  West.     I 


SPEECH     OF     HON.     J.    MOHRISOX     IIAUKIS     >1F     MAKVI.ANI).         259 

have  never  before  croAsed  the  inciintaiii  barrier  that  shuts  out  your  fair  valleys 
and  rolling  prairies  from  the  seaboard,  where  my  home  is.  It  has  lonjr  been 
one  of  the  purposes  of  my  life  to  visit  this  great  region,  of  the  extent,  fertihty, 
resources,  and  amazing  development  of  which  I  had  read  and  heard  so  much  ; 
and  now  that  I  am  here,  seeing  and  realizing  for  myself,  I  am  made  to  feel 
that  even  my  large  anticipation  is  dwarfed  by  the  wonderful  reality.  Where 
but  a  iuw  years  ago  was  the  home  of  the  savage  and  the  solemn  grandeur  of 
undisturbed  nature,  I  find  spreading  fields  of  exuberant  vegetation,  which, 
"  if  but  scratched  with  a  ploughshare  do  laugh  into  a  harvest ;'  majestic 
rivers,  whose  floods  bear  for  thousands  of  miles  the  commerce  of  a  people — 
long  lines  of  perfected  railroads  piercing  everywhere  new  sections  of  country, 
and  developing,  with  marvellous  rapidity,  yet  more  marvellous  resources  of 
mineral  and  agricultural  wealth — stately  cities,  crowded  with  active  and  en- 
tei-prising  populations — beautiful  with  adorned  mansions,  dignified  by  noble  in- 
stitutions of  public  charity,  and  evincing  the  presence  of  all  those  influences  of 
science,'  education  and  refinement,  that  make  cities  great.  With  these  revela- 
tions of  your  developments,  there  comes  to  me  a  new  appreciation  of  the  large 
importance  of  your  division  of  our  common  country  in  the  future  tliat  hes  be- 
fore the  Republic  ;  and  while  I  note  the  fresh  and  vigorous  life  that  animates 
all  movement  here,  and  reflect  upon  the  exhaustless  and  multiform  resources 
that  court  the  development  which  your  energy  will  give  them,  I  can  well  un- 
derstand that  in  political  as  well  as  commercial  importance  this  Great  W'est  is 
destined  to  occupy  a  position  the  significance  of  which  cannot  easily  be  over 
estimated.  With  your  future,  we  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  that  has  now  linked 
herself  to  you  with  the  iron  bands  of  a  consummated  road,  hope  to  have  an 
assured  and  beneficial  interest.  For  many  long  years  of  painful  and  at  times 
almost  hopeless  efibrt,  we  have  been  striving  to  reach  you.  We  have  worked 
wonders  in  achieving  cur  purpose,  and  he  who  will  cross,  as  I  have  just 
done,  the  mountains  that  lie  between  us,  and  witness  the  triumph  of  man's 
skill  over  the  interposed  obstacles  of  nature,  must  marvel  that  the  enterprise 
has  ever  been  accomplished.  As  a  Baltimore  man,  you  must  allow  me  to  be 
proud  of  the  boldness  of  the  idea,  the  patient  courage  that  marked  its  slow  de- 
velopment, and  the  happy  issue  that  is  commemorated  here  to-night.  I  taist, 
Sir,  that  both  your  city  and  mine  will  derive  ever-increasing  advantages  from 
the  union  into  which  we  are  thus  brought,  and  I  believe  that  commercial  bene- 
fits are  not  the  only  good  that  will  result  from  it. 

I  regard  each  new  road  that  is  opened  between  widely-separated  sections 
of  the  country  as  welding  the  people  together  yet  more  firmly  in  the  bonds  of 
a  common  nationality. 

The  increased  facilties  and  growing  necessities  of  intercommunication  lead 
to  juster  views  of  character,  create  and  cement  personal  relations,  dissipate  the 
clouds  of  erroneous  association,  and  make  us  more  thoi-oughly  one  people. 
Let  us,  then,  cultivate  a  better  acquaintance  with  each   otlier,  and  growing 


260  GREAT    OHIO     AND     MISSISSIPF'I     RAILROAD    OHEMNG. 

fairly  tolerant  of  each  other's  opinions  upon  points  of  difiference,  let  ns  make 
this  an  occasion  for  renewing  onr  fealty  to  that  "  Union "  of  which  all  our 
divers  States  are  parts,  and  in  which  alone  any  of  them  are  truly  great. 

Hon.  Mr.  Phelps,  Spe.aker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  Mas- 
sacliusetts,  was  then  called  for.  He  took  the  stand  amid  gratifjing 
expressions  of  welcome,  and  entertained  tlie  audience  by  an  address 
of  much  vigor  and  pertinence  and  well  sustained  eloquence,  which  was 
responded  to  by  tumultuous  signs  of  satisfaction. 

Judge  A.  T.  Ellis,  of  Vincennes,  Ind.,  was  the  next  speaker  called  for. 
He  took  the  stand,  his  pleasing  face  beaming  all  over  with  good  nature 
and  outburstiug  humor,  and  commenced  a  speech  which  all  expected 
would  sparkle  with  anecdote  and  wit.  Tiie  Judge,  however,  entered  into 
au  interesting  historic  narration,  and  gave  a  succinct  account  of  the  pro- 
gress of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Raih-oad.  He  claimed  for  Vincennes 
the  lionor  of  projecting  the  road.  He  himself,  we  believe,  was  its  first 
President.  He  alluded  to  its  early  difficulties  and  paralyzing  discour- 
agements. To  Colonel  John  O'Fallon,  of  St.  Louis,  he  awarded  the 
praise  of  being  its  first  efficient  financial  friend  in  St.  Louis,  and  Judge 
Burnett,  of  Cincinnati,  as  a  powerful  auxiliary  there.  The  mention 
of  the  name  of  Colonel  OTallon  called  out  a  tempest  of  cheers.  Judge 
Ellis  traced  the  history  of  the  road  to  the  period  when  Mr.  Henry  D. 
Bacon  took  hold  of  it,  and  pushed  the  Western  Division  first,  and  then, 
Avith  others,  the  Eastern  to  its  completion.  Here  again  too,  the  "sym- 
pathies of  the  crowd  were  touched,  and  a  storm  of  applause  followed 
the  mention  of  the  name  of  Mr.  Bacon.  Judge  Ellis  closed  amid  ap- 
plauding cheers. 

Hon.  Wm.  Corry,  of  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Loomis,  of  Pennsylvania,  con- 
tributed brief  and  pertinent  speeches. 

The  proceedings  were  closed  byWm.  Pinckney  Whyte,  of  Baltimore. 
There  were  passages  in  his  speech  of  elevated  and  dignified 
eloquence — there  were  anecdote,  wit,  humorous  allusion,  fancy  and 
imagination— all  of  which,  by  turns,  were  welcomed  by  clapping, 
stamping,  roars  of  laughter  and  Indian  war-whoops.  It  was  a  very 
liai)py  closing  up  of  the  speeches  of  the  evening,  and  sustained  the 
spirit  of  the  occasion  to  the  very  last  moment.  In  the  course  of  his 
remarks  'Sir.  Whyte  said  : 

On  an  occasion  other  than  the  present,  he  would  at  so  late  an  hour  decline 
to  respond,  but  he  was  aware  that  he  was  here  in  truth  as  a  guest,  and  when 
asked  to  express  his  sentiments  as  such,  he  felt  that  he  should  be  recreant  were 
he  not  to  utter  them.  He  and  his  friends  hud  come  hither,  strangers,  to  see 
their  western  connexions.     Of  these  they  had  heard,  and  read,  and  been  proud, 


CLOSING    SPEECH    OF    WM.   PINCKNEY    WHYTE    OF  BALTIMORE.    261 

and  yet  had  no  idea  that  thej'  were  such  a  delightful  family ! — He  and  his 
brother  guests  had  expected  even  warm  hospitality,  but  really,  scarcely  hos- 
pitality like  this.  They  had  been  made  to  feel  that  they  were  welcomed  with 
a  truly  fraternal  welcome.  They  had  been  taken  by  the  hand  and  by  the  heart 
with  a  hospitality  of  which  he  recalled  no  precedent. 

The  people  of  St.  Louis  were  an  example  in  the  history  of  nations  !  They 
were  about  to  murder  their  guests,  to  kill  them  with  kindness !  He  had  heard 
it  said  that  there  was  an  interior  party  liere — he  didn't  wonder  that  it  was  so 
said,  tor  the  citizens  had  been  doing  nothing  since  the  guests  were  here  but 
goiny  into  their  (the  guests')  interior !  1  he  hospitality  seemed  endless.  It 
was  like  the  interminable  rope  of  the  Irish  sailor,  who,  after  long  hauling  it 
in,  concluded  that  "  some  divil  in  the  say  had  cut  the  ind  offT  The  end  of 
the  generosity  being  lavished,  had  surely  been  "  cut  off."  There  were  the 
profusion  of  \'iands,  the  native  sparkling  Catawba,  the  cordial  grasp  of  hands 
warmed  by  glowing  hearts,  and — as  a  peerless  lamp  to  light  their  pathway — 
the  eyes  and  smiles  of  the  fair !  But  why  should  he  thus  attempt  to  express 
gratitude — he  would  be  bold  to  say  that  no  gratitude  was  due.  The  kindness 
shown  was  a  spontaneous  outburst  of  native  generosity  which  came  of  itself, 
and  which  the  givers  could  not  help.  He  would  not  boast  of  Maryland — 
thank  God,  we  were  all  the  children  of  one  commonwealth.  He  had  a  right 
to  speak  here  in  Missouri,  and  why .'  Because  in  her  hour  of  need  his  an- 
cestor had  stood  in  the  United  States  Senate  as  her  advocate.  This  vanity'  of 
boasting  of  each  other's  States  or  cities  was  little  better  than  that  of  going 
forth  to  boast  of  each  other's  houses.  The  history  of  the  country  and  the  he- 
roes of  the  country  were  of  the  country — all !  We  should  not  imitate  him  who 
boasted  that  his  ancestor  sailed  in  the  ark,  and  was  silenced  by  another  with 
the  boast  that  his  ancestor  "  had  a  boat  of  his  own .'" 

As  the  simple  aboriginals  were  wont  to  do,  the  citizens  of  St.  Louis  had 
sent  for  their  friends  abroad  to  come  to  their  big  viigwam  and  have  a  talk ; 
and  he  would  tell  them  this,  that  it  would  be  folly  to  rend  the  Union !  He 
was  a  knave  or  a  fool  who  wished  it.  It  could  not  be  done.  He  differed  from 
the  speaker  who  thought  that  the  iron  rails  chiefly  made  the  Union  indis- 
soluble. A  certain  Irishman  didn't  take  that  view  of  it.  On  first  seeing  the 
wire  of  the  telegraph  he  asked,  in  wonder,  "  An'  sure,  what's  that  for?"  (Here 
the  speaker  related  the  colloquy  between  the  Irishman  and  his  friend,  giving 
the  brogue  and  humor  of  the  former  in  a  style  which  convulsed  his  auditor* 
with  roars  of  merriment,  and  which  we  had  rather  not  attempt  to  follow.) 
When  informed  of  the  nature  of  the  telegraph  wire,  he  called  it  "  a  providen- 
tial interposition."  For,  "  how  could  the  Union  now  be  taken  apart  when 
it  was  tied  together  by  a  string?"  The  speaker,  too,  believed  that  it  was  tied 
together  by  a  string,  but  the  string  was  neither  the  rails  nor  the  wires,  but  the 
heart-strings  of  the  people  ! 


262  GREAT    OHIO     AND    MISSISSIPI'I    KAILHOAD    Ol'lCNINli. 

He  and  his  friends  wonld  soon  return  to  tlieir  homes,  und  when  they  told 
the  wonders  of  this  western  world,  they  would  hear  from  their  people  the  same 
denials  of  their  story,  as  the  Indians  of  olden  time  showed  upon  the  recital  of 
marvellous  things  seen  hy  the  traveller  Qagoo.  "  Kaw,"  they  said,  "  what 
lies  you  tell  us,  do  not  think  tliat  we  believe  them." 

He  closed  hy  reminding  his  hosts  that  they  owed  their  guests  of  Baltimore 
a  visit,  which  the  latter  would  insist  must  be  paid,  and  by  warmly  expressing 
the  wish  that  the  prosperity  of  St.  Louis  might  be  unrivalled  on  the  fiice  of  the 
American  continent. 

Thus  ended  the  great  American  Central  Line  Hailroad  excursion, 
wliicb,  from  its  inception  to  its  close,  proved  a  grand  triumph,  with- 
out an  accident  to  mar  its  pleasures  or  cast  a  dark  shade  on  the  i)leasant 
remembrances  of  those  who  participated  in  its  incidents.  On  otlier 
occasions,  the  inauguration  of  these  modern  means  of  rapid  comniuni- 
caiion  has  been  sealed  with  the  sacrifice  of  illustrious  victims,  and  the 
triumph  has  been  accompanied  with  terrible  reminders  of  the  insecure 
tenure  of  human  happiness,  and  the  essential  imperfection  of  all  Im- 
inan  progress.  To  the  kind  Providence  whicli  preserved  us  from  all 
such  misfortunes,  and  crowned  the  eftorts  of  our  hosts  with  complete 
success,  is  due  a  meed  of  gratitude  and  praise,  cheerfully  awarded  by 
every  reflecting  inind. 

No  railroad  celebration  has  ever  been  projected  in  the  history  of 
tlie  country  on  a  scale  so  magnificent  and  costly  as  this.  The  prepara- 
tions were  commensurate  with  the  grandeur  of  the  Great  National 
Highway  which  it  opens  up,  and  the  extensive  and  complex  arrange- 
ments for  the  entire  trip,  from  Baltimore  to  St.  Louis,  were  planned 
and  carried  out  with  a  lavishness  of  expenditure  and  princely  liberality 
wliich  have  been  the  theme  of  general  surprise  and  admiration. 

The  character  of  the  work  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Road, 
(something  which  can  be  said  of  but  few  roads  in  the  West),  is  of  the 
most  substantial  description.  After  leaving  N.  Vernon,  Ohio,  going 
"West,  the  country  is  very  level  and  there  are  but  few  curves  or  em- 
bankments, thus  greatly  lessening  the  liability  to  accidents  and  the 
expenses  of  repairs.  Tin-ough  Illinois  the  track  is  almost  on  a  bee 
line,  and  over  a  dead  level  for  the  whole  distance.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen  that  a  high  rate  of  speed  can  be  obtained  with  comparative  safety. 
The  country  is  unsurpassed  in  agricultural  resources,  though  as  yet 
we  should  think  developed  to  but  a  limited  extent,  particularly  that 
part  of  it  lying  along  the  Indiana  section,  which  is  mostly  covered 
with  extensive  bodies  of  timber,  while  in  Illinois  it  is  a  succession  of 


C1.USE  OF   THE    CELEBRATION GUESTS    RETURK    HOMEWARD.      263 

vast   prairie?,  slightly  rolling,  and  wiiicli  appear  to  be  devoted  prin- 
cipally to  grazing. 

In  distance,  in  geographical  position,  and  the  advantages  of  climate, 
the  Ohio  and  Mhsissipjn  Railroad  must  for  ever  stand  without  a  rival. 
No  otiier  road  can  ever  compete  with  it  in  the  immense  throngh  travel 
Avliicii  must  flow  with  rapidly  increasing  tide  between  the  two  great 
metropolitan  cities  of  tlie  West. 

It  is  also  another  mighty  link  in  the  stupendous  iron  chain  which 
must  stretch  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  Slowly,  but  steadily 
and  surely,  link  after  link,  it  is  creeping  westwardly,  and  perhaps  ere 
the  lapse  of  another  decade,  to  adopt  a  beautiful  simile  of  Webster's, 
tlie  steam-whistle  which  greets  the  early  morn  upon  the  shores  of  the 
Atlantic,  will  roll  on  in  one  continuous  strain  through  mountains  and 
across  rivers  and  prairies,  until  its  voice  is  lost  in  the  roar  of  the  Pa- 
cific; beginning  with  the  rising  of  the  sun,  and  following  his  pathway 
across  the  vast  expanse  of  a  hemisphere,  until  he  disappears  through 
the  golden  gates  of  California. 

Most  of  the  guests  remained  in  the  city  until  Sunday  evening  or 
Monday,  when  there  was  a  general  stampede.  A  large  number  of  the 
Maryland  guests  went  to  Galena  and  Chicago,  over  the  great  Illinois 
Central  Road  by  special  invitation  of  and  in  company  with  its  excel- 
lent Superintendent,  Mr.  James  C.  Clarke,  and  Mr.  Samuel  D.  Hayes, 
Master  of  Machinery,  both  formerly  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road, 
who  were  among  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  guests  at  St.  Louis.  Some 
of  the  guests  returned  at  once  to  their  homes  by  the  direct  routes 
from  St.  Louis  (by  the  Terro  Haute  «fe  St.  Louis  Road,  or  the  Ohio  &, 
Missisci|)pi);  but  the  majority  broke  up  into  small  parties  and  started 
off  on  excursions  to  the  interior — some  even  to  Kansas,  others  to  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  a  few  to  the  southward,  some  to  the  Lakes,  and 
many  to  Niagara  and  the  St.  Lawrence  River ;  all  left  behind  them 
new-formed  friends,  to  part  from  whom  was  the  most  disagreeable 
incident  of  the  whole  affair,  and  all  carried  away  recollections  of  St. 
Louis  which  will  ever  be  cherished  with  liveliest  regard. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  notice  here,  that  on  the  Monday  fol- 
lowing the  great  celebration, — the  8th  of  Jiine, — the  New  Mechanics' 
Exchange  at  St.  Louis  was  opened  with  appropriate  ceremonies. 
During  the  proceedings,  Henry  Ames,  president  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  proposed  the  following  sentiment : 

"  St.  Louis  lias  long  been  murried  to  New  York  and  Boston — the  western 
people  have  now  adopted  the  Utah  principle,  and  have  taken  Baltimore  into  the 
alliance." 


264  GREAT    OHIO    AND    MISSISSIPPI    RAILROAD    OPENING. 

Judge  Z.  Collii'.s  Lee,  of  Baltimore,  one  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  guests,  then  took  the  stand  in  answer  to  a  desire  generally 
expressed,  and  compared  the  past  of  St.  Louis  with  her  present  great- 
ness. 

He  alluded  in  brief  terms  to  the  difference  in  the  number  of  population 
between  the  present  period  and  that  of  twenty  years  ago,  and  said  that  the 
people  of  the  eastern  States  begin  to  feel  that  they  have  been  lying  in  a  stag- 
nant pool  while  the  star  of  empire  was  taking  its  inevitable  course  westward. 
The  people  of  the  West  and  of  the  North  are  as  one  people,  and  when  he  saw 
the  warm  hearts  and  welcome  hands  of  the  sons  of  the  Mississippi  extended  in 
cordial  greeting  and  generous  welcome  to  those  of  the  sea-girt  shores  of  the 
East,  he  had  a  feeling  of  pity,  not  a  little  akin  to  contempt,  for  those  cavillers 
who  talk  of  even  the  distant  probability  of  a  dissolution  of  the  Union.  For 
years  past  there  never  had  been  a  presidential  convention  but  what  pai'ty 
demagogues  had  considered  it  necessary  to  let  the  Union  slide.  But  there 
had  always  been  and  always  would  be  a  Moses  found  to  bear  the  ark  of  the 
Constitution  safely  through  the  contest. 

He  did  not  know  whether  those  present  were  Americans  or  not ;  but  the 
thought  reminded  him  of  a  pleasant  hour  which  he  had  recently  passed  with 
some  of  the  belles  of  Vincennes.  On  that  occasion  he  happened  to  remark 
that  he  believed  the  ladies  present  wei-e  all  know-nothings.  At  which  a  dark- 
eyed  comely  dame  arose  from  her  seat,  and  with  a  courtesy  and  an  arch  smile 
replied  :   "  All  but  me,  sir — I'm  a  widow." 

He  would  remind  his  hearers  of  the  prophecy  of  Henry  Clay,  that  patriot 
and  statesman  whom  men  had  honored  and  blessed,  "  That  the  great  centre  of 
the  United  States  would  be  at  St.  Louis,  on  the  Mississippi."  A\'e  are  now 
realizing  that  prophecy  every  day.  I  find  myself  to-day,  continued  the 
speaker,  almost  literally  in  New  York ;  and  were  I  not  told  that  I  was  in  St. 
Louis,  I  should  believe  myself  among  the  arts,  civilization  and  commerce  of 
that  metropolis  ;  even  along  your  wharves  the  very  mules  seem  almost  to  fall 
on  tlieir  knees  upon  the  golden  road  of  commerce.  The  speaker  concluded  his 
remarks  with  the  following  sentiment : 

"  The,  (ilizens  of  theyVest  and  the  jyatriots  of  Missouri ;  may  they  ever  main- 
tain what  their  forefathers  have  established — the  liberty  of  the  country  to  the 
latest  generation." 


THE 


RAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF   1857. 


PART     II. 


THE  EXCURSION  OF  THE  WESTERN  STATE  AND  CITY  AUTHOR- 
ITIES TO  BALTIMORE,  WASHINGTON,  AND  NORFOLK, 
IN  JULY,  1857. 


f 


THE 


KAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF   1857. 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTION  TO    PAET  II. 

The  Grand  Railroad  Excursion  from  the  West,  which  took  place 
in  July,  1857,  deserves  to  be  put  upon  record  as  an  evidence  of  rare 
and  wholesome  public  spirit,  and  of  sectional  courtesy  and  fraterniza- 
tion which,  except  in  the  similar  excursion  of  the  East  to  the  West 
that  preceded  it — and  which  we  have  now  fully  described — was  vvith- 
out  parallel  in  the  history  of  our  country.  As  an  event,  it  must  long 
live  in  the  memories  of  those  who  participated  in  it.  clothed  with  many 
reminiscences  of  pleasures  enjoyed,  knowledge  acquired,  friend- 
ships formed,  and  hospitalities  received.  Our  detail  of  the  history 
of  this  great  commemorative  visit  of  the  West  to  Baltimore  and 
the  neighboring  cities,  must  be  confined  chiefly  to  the  festive  and  so- 
cial characteristics,  and  the  incidents  of  welcome,  entertainment,  and 
rejoicing,  that  were  connected  with  the  event  from  the  time  that  the 
guests  were  taken  in  charge  by  the  Baltimore  Railroad,  at  the  Ohio 
River,  up  to  their  final  sepaiation  in  Baltimore,  on  their  return  from 
Norfolk. 

To  the  people  of  Baltimore,  the  visit  of  their  guests  was  an  occa- 
sion which  they  hailed  with  joy  and  embraced  with  avidity,  as  a  fii- 
vorable  opportunity  for  testifying  toward  these  representatives  of  the 
West  the  feeling  entertained  for  that  section  of  the  country,  toward 
which  they  had  perseveringly,  and  at  last  successfully,  labored  to  con- 
nect themselves  by  the  durable  bonds  of  the  iron  rail.  Nor  was  tliis 
feeling  altogether  of  selfish  origin,  growing  out  of  the  consideration 
merely  of  commercial  advantage  and  business  gain.  Active  as  these 
considerations  might  justly  be,  the  social  instincts  of  Baltimore  had 


4  INTRODUCTION, 

been  excited,  its  prevalent  hospitality  appealed  to,  and  there  was  an 
eager  anxiety  to  receive  these  guests  as  cherished  friends,  to  whom  they 
owed  an  amount  of  hospitable  obligation  that  had  become  almost  bur- 
densome in  its  pleasant  weight.  This  was  the  result  of  the  visit  of 
the  Baltimore  deputation  to  the  West  in  the  preceding  month.  The 
lavish  and  overwhelming  hospitality  with  which — as  we  have  shown-^ 
they  had  been  received  and  entertained  at  every  point  along  the  ex- 
tended route,  impressed  them  too  strongly  to  be  quickly  forgotten. 
They  had  returned  home  filled  with  admiration  for  the  Great  West, 
and  delighted  with  its  people.  This  feeling  was  too  enthusiastically 
entertained  and  freely  expressed,  not  to  have  touched,  with  its  agree- 
able infection,  the  whole  mass  of  their  fellow-citizens,  and  it  was  with 
this  unanimous  and  earnestly  entertained  intent,  that  the  people  and 
authorities  of  Baltimore  awaited  the  coming  of  the  day  in  which  the 
"Western  Excursionists  "  were  to  be  declared  the  guests  of  the  city. 

It  was  with  a  knowledge  of  this  feeling  upon  the  part  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Baltimore,  as  well  perhaps  as  with  the  proper  desire  that  might 
influence  so  great  a  corporation,  in  desiring  an  opportunity  to  return 
to  the  people  of  the  West  the  civilities  that  had  been  so  profusely  ex- 
pended upon  its  own  invited  guests  and  representatives,  that  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad  Company  originated  the  movement,  which 
expanded,  and  resulted  in  the  festival  whose  incidents  we  are  at- 
tempting to  describe. 

Besides  all  this,  there  were  practical  and  important  public  objects 
to  be  incidentally  promoted  by  bringing  the  authonties  of  the  great 
Western  cities  to  a  close  observance,  at  Baltimore,  of  the  feasibility 
and  efficiency  of  street  railroads  in  securing  a  ready  and  easy  connec- 
tion between  the  tracks  upon  leading  routes,  without  the  more  expen- 
sive and  annoying  transfers  of  freight  and  passengers  now  experienced, 
especially  at  Cincinnati — in  moving  between  the  East  and  the  West. 

In  these  objects  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Companj'-  was  promptly, 
and  in  the  most  cordial  manner,  seconded  by  the  Little  IMiami  and 
Central  Ohio  Roads,  (which  unite  it,  through  Columbus,  with  Cincin- 
nati, as  well  as  by  Xenia,  with  Dayton,  Indianapolis,  Terre  Haute,  and 
St.  Louis,)  of  "  the  Great  National  Route,"  and  also  by  the  then  recent- 
ly opened  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Road,  intended  to  connect  the  Par- 
kersburg  tenninus  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road  with  Cincinnati 
and  the  farther  West.  Afterwards,  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Company 
liberally  joined  in  the  invitation  to  the  St.  Louis  guests,  and  thus  the 
unprecedented  severity  for  its  latitude.     The  Ohio  River  was  frozen, 


INTRODUCTION.  O 

line  of  the  excursion  was  extended  to  that  city,  from  Baltimore  and 
Washington. 

In  view  of  the  important  parts  performed  by  the  Little  Miami  and 
the  Central  Ohio  Roads  in  this  July  excursion, — as  well  as  their  gen- 
eral relations  to  the  great  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road  on  the  east,  and  to 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Road  on  the  west — we  propose  to  give  the 
best  account  of  their  history  which  we  have  been  able  to  secure,  before 
detailing  the  incidents  of  the  Excursion  itself. 


THE 

RAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF  1857. 


CHAPTER   XL 


THE  LITTLE  MIAMI,  AND  COLUMBUS  AND  XENIA  RAILROAD. 

The  second  stage  of  the  excursion  was  from  Cincinnati,  one  of 
the  great  commercial  capitals  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  to  Columbus, 
the  State  capital  of  Ohio. 

General  Features. — We  will  speak  of  the  Road  connecting  the 
two,  as  the  Little  Miami — so  named  from  the  beautiful  river,  up 
whose  valleys  it  winds  for  the  first  sixty-five  miles,  to  Xenia ;  thence  to 
Columbus,  fifty-four  miles,  aeross  the  fertile  table-lands  of  the  grazing 
district  of  southern  Ohio.  The  Little  Miami  Railroad  proper  extends 
from  Cincinnati,  through  Xenia,  to  Springfield,  eighty-three  and  a  half 
miles.  But  by  a  contract  of  union  between  the  Little  Miami  and  the 
Columbus  and  Xenia  companies,  concluded  in  1853,  the  two  agreed  to 
permanently  unite  their  respective  roads,  in  their  business  management 
and  uses,  as  one ;  since  when  the  two  lines  have  been  worked  and 
managed  together  under  the  direction  of  one  Superintendent,  appointed 
by  the  concurrent  action  of  the  two  Boards  of  Directors,  subject  to  the 
direction  of  a  joint  committee  of  four. 

The  first  annual  report  of  the  Little  Miami  Company  was  made  1842, 
that  of  the  Columbus  and  Xenia  Company  in  1849.  Since  1856  the 
companies  have  issued  joint  annual  reports. 

Chauacter  of  the  Management. — The  Little  Miami  Railroad 
then,  as  the  line  fiom  Cincinnati  to  Columbus  is  popularly  known, 
has  the  conceded  position  of  tlie  '•  model  road  "  of  the  Western  system. 
The  administration  of  its  finances  has  been  above  suspicion,  and  has 
materially  contributed  to  arrest  the  tendency  of  the  public  mind  to 
the  universal  distrust,  if  not  contempt,  of  the  indifference  of  tlie  Direction 


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THE    MODEL    BAILKOAD    OF    THE   WEST— \V>I.  H.  CLEMENT.         7 

of  this  class  of  public  works.  By  a  coincidence,  as  remarkable  as  the 
existence  of  rare  excellence  in  either  department,  the  administration 
of  the  operative  department  and  police  of  the  road  has  been  more 
successful,  perhaps,  than  any  other  among  American  lines. 

The  standard  of  excellence  established  on  this  road  by  William  H. 
Clement — for  many  years  its  General  Superintendent,  until  he  left  it 
to  take  charge  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  line,  in  1857 — was,  in  some 
important  respects,  superior  to  that  in  the  military  service ;  for  it 
conserved  all  the  accurate  and  manly  elements  supposed  to  result  from 
the  latter,  while  it  left  ample  room  for  self-respect,  and  moral  as  well 
as  professional  elevation,  in  the  lower  grades  of  employees.  Mr. 
Clement  seems  to  have  been  one  of  the  first  to  perceive  that  the  almost 
indefinite  extension  of  the  railway  system  would  demand  for  its  oper- 
ation a  larger  number  of  men,  and  possessing  a  greater  average  of 
ability,  than  either  the  civil  or  the  mihtary  departments  of  Govern- 
ment, and  would  form,  to  a  certain  extent,  a  distinct  class  in  the 
community,  superior  in  numbers,  and  hardly  inferior  in  talent,  to  all 
the  liberal  professions.  A  leading  idea  with  him  seems  to  have  been 
the  formation  of  character,  as  well  as  the  selection  of  the  best  avail- 
able material  the  community  afforded  for  his  employees.  The  influence 
of  the  Superintendent  was  such,  that  any  man  or  boy  appointed  to  any 
post  on  the  Little  Miami  road,  forthwith  felt  the  pressure  of  personal 
responsibility;  felt  that  he  was  trusted  and  depended  upon,  and  that — 
as  a  rule — his  own  rejiort  of  himself  would  be  taken.  The  self-respect 
of  the  employee,  thus  appealed  to  and  cultivated,  his  character  and 
skill  in  his  calling  grew  apace.  Many  a  "  bad  man"  has  taken  an 
agency,  an  engine,  a  train,  or  a  break  on  the  Little  Miami,  and  been 
gradually  and  effectually  reformed  by  the  silent  but  operative  influences 
of  the  service. 

The  severest  discipline  was  found  compatible  with  the  entire  devo- 
tion of  the  employees.  Mr.  Clement  was  sagacious  enough  to  know 
that  employees  and  subordinates  like  nothing  better  than  to  be  held  to 
the  sti-ictest  performance  of  duty.  Such  performance  earns  self-respect^ 
and  self-respect  brings  satisfaction  with  one's  position  and  its  surround- 
ings. Discipline  was  never  relaxed,  and  therefore  the  chief  never  lost 
complete  control  over  all,  and  every  unit  of  his  force.  Superadded  to 
this  was  a  felicitous  ability  to  Inspire  aflection ;  nothing  could  shake 
the  loyalty  of  his  employees.  Tlie  winter  of  185G-'7  was  one  to  test 
the  loyalty  and  devotion  of  the  men  of  his  road.  The  cold  was  of 
unprecedented  severity  for  its  latitude.     The  Oliio  River  was  frozen 


8  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE   EAST. 

and  the  price  of  coal  went  up  from  fourteen  to  sixty  cents  per  bushel. 
The  result  was  a  fuel  famine !  The  Little  ]Miarai  was  the  only  Cincin- 
nati line  having  a  connection  with  a  coal  region.  The  eflFect  of  the 
intense  cold  was  to  derange  the  running  of  trains,  the  snapping  of 
axles  and  wheels,  as  though  their  material  was  of  brittle  glass.  The 
consequence  of  the  fuel  famine,  was  a  vast  increase  in  the  demand  for 
service.  A  populace,  but  little  informed  as  to  the  capacity  and  opera- 
tion of  iron  roads,  and  urged  on  by  demagogues,  not  only  menaced  the 
wealthier  classes,  but  threatened  to  tear  up  the  track  of  the  Little 
Miami  Railroad,  because  it  did  not  work  the  miracle  of  an  instant 
adaptation  of  equipment  and  depot  facilities  to  a  new  freightage,  and 
daily  precipitate  an  abundant  supply  of  fuel  upon  a  manufacturing  city 
of  two  hundred  thousand  people. 

This  emergency  was  the  opportunity  that  proved  the  Little  Miami 
"  the  model  road  "  in  all  that  related  to  discipline  and  effectiveness. 
Every  man  and  every  engine  was  worked  under  the  severest  pressure, 
to  his  and  its  fullest  capacity.  There  was  no  rest  for  the  engineers  ; 
the  conductors  were  required  to  "  double  "  day  and  night,  the  brake- 
men  on  the  roofs  and  on  the  alert  through  all  the  nights,  when  the 
thermometer  marked  20°  below  zei'o,  but  not  a  man  left  his  post — 
there  was  not  a  murmur.  The  worst  effects  of  the  famine  were  averted, 
the  city  was  practically  relieved. 

Men  familiar  with  these  facts,  and  who  admire  administrative  ability 
and  moral  heroism  in  whatever  calling,  will  think  of  Clement  and  his 
associates  in  the  winter  of  '56-7,  as  they  think  of  Havelock  and  his 
comi-ades  at  Lucknow.  Under  John  Durand,  its  present  excellent 
superintendent,  the  high  character  of  the  management  seems  to  have 
been  admirably  maintained.  ]Mr.  Durand  is  from  the  Cleveland  and 
Wheeling  Railroad,  also  an  excellent  line. 

Financial  Administration  of  the  Road — its  Present  Posi- 
tion.— The  Fifteenth  Annual  Report  of  the  Little  Miami  Company, 
published  early  in  1858,  makes  the  following  exhibit:  it  is  in  such 
sharp  and,  withal,  gratifying  contrast  with  the  lame  and  impotent 
conclusions  of  the  majority  of  reports,  that  its  statistics  will  interest 
and  attract  even  the  popular  mind,  and  unprofessional  readers. 

Little  Miami  Railroad. 

Surplus  Dec.  1,1856..... $479  235  24 

Little  Miami    Company's  proportion   of  profits  of  joint  company " 

for  the  year  1857 290  120  89 

Amount  transferred  from  Depreciation  and  Renewal  Fund 80,000  00 

Total $849,346  13 


FINANCES    OF    LITTLE    mIaMI    ROAD,  9 

From  which  deduct — 
Div.  No.  21,  declared  Dec.,  185(5 $149,064   13 

Do.    22,  declared  June,  1857 149,064  13 

Sprintrfied,  Mt.  Vernon  and  Pittsburg  Railroad  stock 

charged  up 196,150  00 

Hills,  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  stock  charged  up 1,444  72 

Lake  steamers,  charged  up 32,630  40 

Sundry  expenses  and  losses 674  08 

529,027  4G 

Surplus  Dec  1,  1857 $320,328  67 

The   entire   cost  of  the  road  and  proportion  of  the  equipment 
amounts  to  $3,925,157  30. 

The  assets  of  the  Little  Miami  Company  are : 

Construction $2,760,796  51 

Real  Estate  and  Depots 588,639  06 

Bills  Receivable 958  84 

Columbus  and  Xenia  Railroad  Stock 425,650  00 

Hillsboro'  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  do 9,262  83 

Springfield,  Mount  Vernon  and  Pittsburg  do 4,000  00 

Sundry  Stocks 6,130  41 

Individual  Accounts 25,971  40 

L.  M.  &  C.  and  Xenia  Railroad  Company 750,171  38 

Total $4,571,580  43 

The  liabilities  are : 

Capital  Stock $2,981,293  12 

Loan  from  City  of  Cincinnati 100,000  00 

Do.  of  1848,  in  Bonds 138,000  00 

Do.  of  1851,  in  Bonds 7,000  00 

Do.  of  1853,  in  Bonds 981,000  00 

Dividends  unpaid 43,958  65 

Profit  and  Loss 320,328  66 

Total $4,571,580  43 

The  exhibit  of  the  Columbus  and  Xenia  Section  is  not  quite  so  late 
as  the  above,  but  may  be  taken  as  substantially  its  present  position. 

Final  Balance  Sheet,  Dec.  1856  ;  Hhouing  the   Property,  Means,  Debts  and  Lia- 
bilities of  the  Company. 

Construction  Account $1,261,434  01 

Real  Estate 21,101  46 

Little  Miami,  and  Columbus  and  Xenia  Go's  stock  ac- 
count       371,082  12 

Second  Track 43,928  65 

Bills  Receivable 1,476  91 

Capital  Stock  owned  by  the  Company 17,050  00 

Dividend  Bonds  bought  in 9,900  GO 

1* 


10  EXCURSION    OP    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Dayton,  Xenia  and  Belpre  Railroad  Stock 51,000  00 

Sprino:field  and  Columbus  Railroad  Stock 50,000  00 

Central  Ohio  Railroad  Stock 60,000  00 

Lake  Steamboats 15,369  60 

Individual  Accounts 32,580  85 

Eastern  Deposit 50,472  22 

Telegraph  Stock 2,000  00 

S.  E,  Wright,  Treas 22,874  98 

$2,010,270  80 

Capital  Stock $1,490,450  00 

Mortgage  Bonds 18,000  00 

Bonds  due  Feb.  1,  1857 55,000  00 

Bills  Payable 50,500  00 

Dividend  Bonds,  due  Dec.  1,  1860 70,000  00 

Do.                   June  1,  1866 69,600  00 

Unclaimed  Dividends 2,453  17 

Individual  Accounts 105  00 

Dividend,  No.  11,  Dec.  1,  1856 74,522  50 

Surplus 179,640  13 

S-2,010,270  80 
On  the  occasion  of  the  recent  election  of  John  Kilgour,  who  suc- 
ceeds the  venerable  Jacob  Strader,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  Little 
Miami  Company  (January  1,  1858),  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Daily 
Commercial  newspaper  of  Cincinnati,  a  gentleman,  it  is  not  improper 

to  state,  understood  to  be  personally  unfriendly  to  Mr.  K ,  made 

the  following  observations  in  the  Railway  Department  of  that  journal. 
The  author  of  this  work  will  add  the  remark  that  these  sentences,  ana- 
lytic and  keenlj^  discriminating  as  they  are,  might  well  be  framed  in 
gold  by  the  President's  children,  and  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the 
family :  in  the  future  they  will  read  better  than  patents  of  nobility. 

There  are  in  the  personal  traits  of  the  new  President  some  things  that  we, 
as  journalists,  jealous  of  the  dignity  of  the  estate,  find,  perhaps,  not  making 
due  allowance  for  a  merchant's  misconception  of  its  scope  and  relations,  may 
criticise  severely,  but  we  can  .afford  to  do  justice  to  decided  ability  and  exalted 
worth,  wherever  society  may  have  so  rich  a  depository. 

Daniel  Webster  would  have  designated  Mr.  Kilgour  as  "  one  of  the  solid 
men  of  the  country."  For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  been  a 
representative  of  what  is  creditable  in  a  merchant,  a  banker,  and  a  managing 
railway  capitalist.  Ho  is  strongly  individual.  His  characterizing  traits  are 
unwavering  integrity  and  an  inevitable  persistence  of  purpose. 

The  admirable  organization  and  the  excellent  police  of  the  operative  de- 
partment that  made  the  Little  Miami  the  model  railroad  of  all  the  West,  is  to 
the  credit  of  Clemen*; ;  the  administration  of  the  finances  of  the  company  that 


I   I 


JOHN    KILGOUR DESCRIPTION    OF    LITTLE    MIAMI    ROAD  11 

has  made  the  Little  Miami  almost  an  isolated  example  of  ability  married  to 
iiitcjjtrity,  and  the  beneficent  influences  of  which  have  diffused  through  all 
grades  of  the  service,  has  been  John  Kilgour's  administration.  If  he  is  not 
distinguished  for  a  generous  estimate  of  men;  if  he  is  not  remarkable  for  the 
genial  temperament  and  the  human  impulses  that  hold  the  loyalty  and  affec- 
tion of  employees,  he  has  that  attribute  that  wise  men  exalt  above  sympathy, 
and  writers  of  proverbs  place  before  generosity — he  is  a  just  man. 

Description  of  the  Line. — The  beauty  of  the  Little  Miami  River 
country  has  frequetitly  been  the  theme  of  praise,  and  deservedly  too. 
Our  space  will  scarcely  permit  us  to  go  into  an  extended  narration  of 
the  different  points  of  interest  that  present  themselves  to  the  eye  of 
the  traveller  as  he  is  whisked  along  the  pleasant  route  from  the  Queen 
City  to  Columbus,  but  we  may  at  least  give  a  currento  calamo  ac- 
count of  most  of  thorn.  But  before  we  proceed,  we  cannot  but  offer  a 
word  in  commendation  of  the  noble  passenger  depot  at  Cincinnati. 
Tins  fine  structure  is  capable  of  containing  ten  thousand  people ;  nor 
have  its  designers  been  at  all  too  spacious  in  their  ideas,  as  the  in- 
ci'easing  and  already  large  influx  of  travel,  from  the  north  and  east, 
brings  into  requisition  all  the  area  which  the  building  can  supply. 
Near  by  are  also  several  other  buildings  of  large  dimensions  for  freight, 
in  which  an  immense  business  is  now  done  by  this  line. 

On  leaving  the  city  the  attention  is  first  attracted  by  the  large 
building  containing  the  Cincinnati  Water  Works.  It  being  necessary 
for  the  purposes  of  supply  to  give  the  water  an  elevation  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet,  and  there  not  being  the  requisite  water  power 
near,  that  of  steam  has  to  be  resorted  to. 

Jamestown,  some  two  miles  from  the  depot,  on  the  Kentucky 
shore,  is  a  handsome  place,  and  its  thrift,  though  only  laid  out  eight 
jears,  suggests  a  strange  contrast  with  the  ivied  ruins  of  its  ancient 
namesake  in  a  sister  State,  and  forms  a  beautiful  picture  from  the 
railroad  on  the  Ohio  side. 

Pendleton,  is  a  continuation  of  the  city  that  we  have  passed.  It 
is  here  that  the  Company  have  located  their  buildings  for  locomotives, 
their  repair  and  other  shops,  so  indispensable  to  the  preservation  of 
the  good  working  order  of  a  railway. 

Leaving  Pendleton,  by  a  curve  in  the  road,  you  pass  into  the  valley 
of  the  Miami,  leaving  to  the  left  on  a  summit,  a  point  rejoicing  in  the 
classic  name  of  Tusculum.  The  extended  panoramic  view  from  the 
hill  is  represented  as  being  fine  indeed. 

The  first  burying-ground — six  miles  from  the  city — is  next  reached. 


12  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

A  sight  of  it  suggests  the  memory  of  the  days  when  the  axe  was  the 
great  pioneer,  and  the  first  settler's  foothold  was  maintained  only  by 
the  clearness  of  his  eye,  and  the  unfailing  accuracy  of  his  rifle.  When 
the  hardihood  and  courage  of  the  men,  whose  bones  fill  the  graves  be- 
neath, is  borne  in  mind,  one  may  think  their  tombs,  as  well  as  that  of 
Trafalgar's  victor,  deserve  the  inscription,  Siste  viater  heroa  calcas. 
The  hum  of  population  that  now  surrounds  their  burial-place,  is  the 
very  antithesis  of  the  solitude  of  the  country,  when  they  first  pene- 
trated the  then  Western  wilds. 

The  Little  Miami  River,  which  is  the  next  object  of  interest,  is 
visible  on  either  side  of  the  track  for  fifty  miles.  This  pretty  stream 
is  equable  in  its  flow,  yet  its  descent  is  such  as  to  give  fine  water 
power,  which  is  attested  by  the  numerous  mills  and  factories  along  its 
banks,  whose  products  find  a  market  in  Cincinnati.  The  river  rises 
in  Madison  county,  and  flows  through  those  of  Warren,  Clermont,  and 
Hamilton,  a  distance  of  eighty  miles  to  its  mouth.  Of  the  exceeding 
fertility  of  the  valley  through  which  flows  this  stream,  we  may  best 
convej'  an  idea  by  saying,  that  there  are  over  a  million  of  bushels  of 
wheat  grown  in  it,  and  almost  countless  bushels  of  that  great  cereal, 
corn.  Of  course  the  flour  into  which  the  mills  convert  the  wheat, 
the  distillation  furnished  from  the  other  grain,  or  the  vast  num- 
ber of  swine  that  are  fed  by  it,  become  a  tribute  to  Cincinnati  through 
the  invaluable  medium  of  freight  cars  and  locomotive.  The  road  fol- 
lows the  valley  to  Xenia,  where  it  is  left,  and  the  track  is  laid  over  an 
ascending  plain  in  the  direction  of  Columbus. 

The  Little  Miami,  though  twenty  miles  distant  from  the  greater 
stream  of  the  same  name,  runs  parallel  to  it.  It  is  from  these  two 
rivers  that  the  valley  which  is  watered  by  them  derives  its  name. 
With  the  exception  of  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Boston,  nowhere  in 
New  England  does  the  densit}-  of  population  exceed  that  of  this 
comparativel}'  primitive  country. 

Plainville.  nine  and  a  half  miles  from  Cincinnati,  is  quite  a  pleasant 
situation.  The  heights  in  its  vicinity  have  been  purchased  for  the 
erection  of  suburban  residences,  being  but  a  short  run  by  the  railroad, 
and  little  more  than  an  hour's  drive  from  the  city. 

Milford's  church  spires  and  schools  are  now  in  sight.  This  place 
is  situated  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Miami.  Its  population  in- 
creased with  much  rapidity.  It  is  situated  in  the  county  named  after 
the  first  boat  propelled  by  steam  in  American  waters,  and  distant  1^ 
miles  from  Cincinnati. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    LITTLE    MIAMI    ROAD.  13 

Miami  Bridge,  elevated  above  the  reach  of  floods,  crossing  the  river 
18  miles  from  the  Queen  City,  is  a  fine  structure  for  railroad  purposes. 
It  is  substantially  built,  in  contemplation  of  the  use  of  a  double  track, 

Loveland  is  a  place  deserving  of  note,  it  being  here  that  the  Little 
Miami  Railway  is  united  to  the  JMarietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad,  23 
miles  from  Cincinnati. 

Deerfield  Station  is  arrived  at  next,  situated  opposite  to  a  dilapi- 
dated place  of  that  name,  which  was  settled  as  long  ago  as  1797. 

Lebanon — four  miles  further  on — is  a  pleasant  retired  country 
town.  The  "cedars"  of  its  representation,  are  the  number  of  promi- 
nent men  of  the  country  that  it  has  produced,  or  who  have  made  it 
their  residence.  Among  them  are  John  McLean  and  Thomas 
Corwin. 

Morrow,  distant  from  Cincinnati  36  miles,  and  from  Xenia  28,  is 
one  of  those  places  that  has  been  brought  into  existence  by  the  magic 
influence  of  railroad  enterprise.  Here  the  road  crosses  a  considera- 
ble stream  called  Todd's  Fork,  by  a  handsome  wooden  bridge.  This 
is  the  point  at  which  the  Little  Miami  Railroad  intei'sects  the  Cincin- 
nati, Wilmington,  and  Zanesville  Railroad.  The  latter  road  forms  a 
central  link  of  straight  line  through  a  rich  country,  uniting  with  the 
Central  Ohio  road  at  Zanesville,  78  miles  from  Benwood  Junction. 

Fort  Ancient  is  41  miles  from  Cincinnati  and  22  miles  from 
Xenia.  But  little,  indeed  nothing,  is  known  of  the  history  of  this  site^ 
save  that  what  remains  of  it  indicates  that  its  original  purpose  was  de- 
fence. 

Corwin — a  station  opposite  the  pretty  town  of  Waynesville — is  50 
miles  from  Cincinnati  and  14  from  Xenia.  Its  surroundings  of  foliage 
are  very  attractive. 

Spring  Valley,  deriving  its  name  from  the  numberless  rills  gushing 
from  the  hill-sides  that  enclose  it,  is  a  pleasant  village.  From  Cincin- 
nati it  is  distant  57  miles,  from  Xenia  7  miles.  There  are  a  number 
of  factories  and  mills  in  the  vicinity. 

About  3  miles  from  Xenia,  in  the  woods  to  the  left,  the  traveller 
reaches  the  spot  made  memorable  by  the  escape  of  the  intrepid  old 
pioneer,  Daniel  Boone,  from  his  Indian  captors.  What  is  now  called 
"  Old  Town  "  was  then  old  Chillicothe,  about  six  miles  from  this  spot 
on  the  river.  Here  he  found  a  body  of  Indians  preparing  to  attack 
Booneburg,  and,  careless  of  the  odds  against  him,  the  fearless  old  pio- 
neer repaired  hither  to  put  his  block-house  in  order,  and  to  defend  it 
from  attack  afterwards. 


14  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Xenia  is  nearly  equi-distant  between  Cincinnati  and  Columbus. 
Xenia  is  the  point  of  junction  with  the  great  railway  system  of  Cen- 
tral Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  through  Dayton,  Indianapolis,  and 
Terre  Haute.  It  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  towns  in  the  interior  of 
the  West.  Its  reputation  for  furnishing  a  nice  railroad  supper  seems 
to  be  well  established. 

Cedarville  Station,  deriving  its  name  from  the  imusual  growth  of 
the  cedar  tree  at  this  point,  is  seventy-two  miles  from  Cincinnati  and 
forty-six  from  Columbus. 

Soutli  Charleston  Station,  situated  in  a  pleasant  country  of  pecu- 
liar soil,  is  next  reached,  its  distance  from  the  Queen  City  being  eighty- 
three  miles,  and  from  Columbus  thirty-five  miles. 

From  Xenia  to  the  capital  of  the  State,  the  railroad,  with  two 
slight  exceptions,  forms  nearly  a  straight  line. 

London,  the  county  seat  of  Madison  county,  is  a  small  town,  situ- 
ated 24  miles  from  the  Capitol,  and  94  from  Cincinnati.  At  this  point 
the  railroad  from  Springfield  connects  with  the  Columbus  and  Xenia, 
Springfield  being  19  miles  distant. 

The  Railroad  Bridge  over  Darly  Creek  is  a  fine  structure,  but  the 
stream  which  it  crosses  is  possessed  of  historical  interest,  because  on 
its  banks  dwelt  the  great  Chief  of  the  Cayugas,  and  the  friend  of  the 
white  man,  Logan,  the  substance  of  whose  speech,  as  given  in  the  pol- 
ished language  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  is  as  familiar  as  household  words. 

Franklinton  is  situated  opposite  Columbus,  and  distant  from  Cin- 
cinnati 118  miles.     It  was  laid  out  in  1797,  hence  before  the  capital. 

Columbus,  the  Capital  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  is  119  miles  from  Cin- 
cinnati, and  137  from  Bellaire,  on  the  Ohio  River,  opposite  Benwood, 
the  junction  with  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road.  It  is  built  on  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  Scioto,  in  the  midst  of  a  beautiful  plain,  which 
forms  Central  and  Western  Ohio.  The  lands  which  surround  it,  were 
once  the  property  of  the  Wyandotte  Indians.  The  city  is  readied  from 
Cincinnati  by  a  substantial  bridge  over  the  Scioto.  The  building  in 
sight  to  the  left  of  the  road  is  the  State  Prison.  In  coming  to  Colum- 
bus, the  traveller  crosses  the  plateau  that  divides  the  waters  of  the 
Scioto  and  the  Little  Miami.  The  head-waters  of  the  latter  stream  at 
one  point  approach  the  Scioto,  which  is  one  of  the  principal  rivers  of 
the  State.  The  area  between  the  two  rivers  is  called  the  "  Virginia 
Military  District." 

On  the  same  day  that  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain  was  declared, 
the  first  steps  were  taken  to  locate  the  seat  of  government  of  Ohio  at 


ii 


OFFICERS    OF    LITTLE    MIAMI    AND    C.  AND    XENIA  ROAD.  15 

Columbus.     Previous  to  that  time  the  Legislature  had  sat  at  Chilli- 
cothe  and  at  Zanc5\  ille. 

One  of  the  features  of  Columbus  is  the  State  House  of  Ohio, — front- 
ing on  Main  street — built  of  a  durable  and  handsome  gray  limestone, 
and  regarded  as  one  of  the  handsomest  public  edifices  in  the  country, 
and  also  one  of  the  largest.  It  is  stated  that  its  dimensions  are  only 
exceeded  by  those  of  the  Capitol  in  Washington  City.  The  area  oc- 
cupied by  it  is  nearly  double  that  of  the  State  House  at  Nashville,  and 
quadruple  that  of  the  largest  in  other  States. 

Officers  and  Directors  of  the  Little  Miami  Railroad  Company 
for  1857-'58. 
JOHN  KILGOUR,  President. 

D.  G.  A.  DAVENPORT,  Treasurer  and  Secretary. 
JOHN  DURAND,  Superintendent. 

CHARLES  KILGOUR,  Master  of  Track  and  Machinery. 

E.  F.  FULLER,  General  Ticket  Agent. 
S.  E.  WRIGHT,  Auditor  of  Accounts. 

DIRECTORS. 

JACOB  STRADER,  JOHN  BACON, 

JOHN  KILGOUR,  WILLIAM  M'CAMMON, 

GRIFFIN  TAYLOR,  ABRAHAM  HIVLING, 

R.  R.  SPRINGER,  JAMES  HICKS,  Jr., 

JOHN  H.  GROESBECK,  LARZ  ANDERSON, 

NATHANIEL  WRIGHT,  ALPHONSO  TAFT. 

Officers  and  Directors  of  the  Columbus  and  Xenia  Railroad  Company 
for  1857-'58. 
WM.  DENNISON,  Jr.,  President. 
JNO.  DURAND,  Superintendent. 
CYRUS  FAY,  Treasurer  and  Secretary. 

DIRECTORS. 

WM.  DENNISON,  Jr.,  Columbus.  WM.  B.  HUBBARD,  Columbus. 

ROBERT  NEIL,  «  JOSEPH  R.  SWAN,        " 

ALFRED  KELLEY,  «  JACOB  STRADER,  Cincinnati. 

D.  W.  DESHLER,  "  JOHN  KILGOUR,  « 

P.  IIAYDEN,  «  R.  R.  SPRINGER,  " 

L.  GOODALE,  "  ABRAIIAxM  HIVLING,  Xenia. 


THE 

RAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF  1857. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  CENTRAL  OHIO  RAILROAD. 

The  Central  Ohio  Railroad  Company  was  incorporated  by  the 
Legislature  of  Ohio,  by  a  special  act,  approved  February  8,  1849 ;  and 
upon  the  20th  of  March,  1850,  several  additional  enactments  in  refer- 
ence to  this  road  were  obtained,  making  up  an  aggregate  of  chartered 
powers  of  the  most  liberal  character. 

The  original  corporators  were :  Robert  Neil,  Samuel  Medary,  Joel 
Buttles,  Joseph  Ridgeway,  and  Bela  Latham,  of  Franklin  coimty ; 
David  Smith,  Daniel  Duncan,  Adam  Seymoui",  Israel  Dille,  Albert 
Sherwood,  Nathaniel  B.  Hogg,  Levi  J.  Humphrey,  Jacob  Glessner, 
George  W.  Penney,  Jonathan  Taylor,  A.  P.  Richard,  and  Wickliff 
Condit,  of  Licking  county ;  James  Raquet,  Robert  Mitchell,  Daniel 
Brush,  John  Hunna,  Solomon  Sturges,  Richard  Stilwell,  Daniel  Con- 
vers,  Levi  Claypool,  and  Solomon  Woods,  of  Muskingum  county.  Of 
these  persons,  Joel  Buttles,  Bela  Latham,  Daniel  Duncan,  Robert 
Mitchell,  and  Daniel  Convers,  have  passed  from  the  stage  of  action.  The 
rest,  in  various  positions  of  trust  and  honor,  business  engagements,  or 
honorable  retirement,  hold  the  continued  confidence  of  the  several  com- 
munities around  them. 

The  charter  authorized  the  construction  of  a  railroad  through  the 
east  and  west  central  belt  of  the  Ohio,  limiting  the  Company  only  to  a 
contact  with  the  towns  of  Zanesville,  Newark,  and  Columbus,  and 
allowing  otherwise  a  full  discretion  in  the  location  of  the  route,  and 
the  eastern  and  western  termini.  The  construction  of  the  several 
lines  of  railway  from  Columbus  to  the  Indiana  boundary,  by  way  of 


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HISTORY    OF    THE    CENTRAL    OHIO    RAILROAD.  17 

Dayton,  and  to  Cincinnati,  by  way  of  Xenia,  obviated  the  necessity  of 
any  exercise  of  the  chartered  powers  of  the  Central  Ohio  Company 
west  of  Columbus  ;  and  they,  accordinj2:l3^,  confined  their  operations  to 
the  filling  up  the  gap  between  the  western  railway  system,  constructed 
and  projected  as  radiating  from  Columbus  and  the  great  lines  from  the 
east,  converging  upon  the  Ohio  River,  at  or  near  Wheeling. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1847,  the  requisite  $10,000  of  stock  having 
been  subscribed,  the  Company  was  organized  by  the  election  of  Solomon 
Sturges,  John  Ilanna,  Wm.  Dennison,  Jr.,  George  James,  Albert  Sher- 
wood, Charles  B.  Goddard,  Daniel  Marble,  Levi  Claypool,  Daniel  Brush, 
and  Stephen  R.  Hosmer,  as  Directors.  The  high  reputation  of  Mr. 
Sturges  in  Ohio,  as  a  capitalist  and  financier,  naturally  indicated  his 
selection  as  President.  He  was  accordingly  elected  ;  Daniel  Brush 
made  Treasurer ;  and  D.  H.  Lyman,  of  Muskingum,  chosen  Secretary. 

During  the  first  year,  the  Directory  confined  itself  to  the  reconnois- 
sance,  by  Jonathan  Knight — then  one  of  the  consulting  engineers  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Company — of  the  country  between  Columbus 
and  Wheeling,  so  as  to  determine  upon  the  feasibility  of  the  project.  His 
report  proved  favorable.  The  year  closing  without  any  farther  action  by 
the  Company,  the  impatience  of  the  railroad  spirit  beginning  to  work  on 
the  community,  indicated  the  propriety  of  a  change  in  the  management. 
Mr.  J.  H.  Sullivan,  of  Zanesville,  having  (as  a  member  of  a  committee 
selected  for  the  purpose  in  the  spring  of  1848),  in  his  pamphlet  address 
to  the  citizens  of  Muskingum  county  on  the  subject  of  municipal  subscrip- 
tions, manifested  an  earnestness  satisfactory  to  the  public  mind,  was 
elected  to  the  Directory  in  August,  1848.  His  consent  being  had,  he 
was  elected  to  the  Presidency  in  September  of  that  year,  which  he 
filled,  by  successive  annual  elections,  for  seven  years ;  and  until  after 
the  whole  line  of  road  from  Columbus  to  the  Ohio  River  at  Bellaire 
was  opened  for  trade  and  travel.  The  Directory  for  1848-9 — the 
opening  year  of  active  operations  for  the  Company — were:  J.  H,  Sulli- 
van (President),  John  Hanna.  Solomon  Sturges,  Charles  B.  Goddard, 
James  Raquet,  S.  R.  Hosmer,  Daniel  Brush  (Treasurer),  George 
James,  William  Galigher,  Levi  Claypool, Israel  Dille,  Albeit  Sherwood, 
and  William  Dennison,  Jr. — D.  H.  Lyman  was  appointed  iirst  Secretary. 

In  a  short  time  the  Company  were  in  a  position  to  order  the  sur- 
veys, location,  and  contracting  of  the  line,  between  Zanesville  and 
Newark — a  distance  of  25^  miles.  On  the  26th  of  January,  1852,  this 
portion  of  the  road  was  opened  for  business.     In  the  spring  of  1852, 


18  EXCURSION    or    WESTEEN    AUTHORITIES    TO   THE    EAST. 

31  sections  of  the  line  east  of  Zanesville  were  placed  under  contract. 
On  the  18th  January,  1853,  the  track  was  extended  westwardly  to  Co- 
lumbus, after  much  difficulty  and  delay,  on  the  completion  of  the  52d  sec- 
tion, at  the  crossing  of  Big  Walnut  Creek.  This  section  has  about  250,000' 
yards  of  embankment,  and  some  1800  feet  of  bridging  and  trestling. 
On  the  report  of  the  engineers  as  to  their  difficulties  in  progressing, 
the  President  took  upon  himself  the  personal  supervision  of  the  work. 
The  results  of  this  course  were  very  satisfactory.  It  restored  the 
morale  of  the  force  of  mechanics  and  laborers  engaged  upon  the  differ- 
ent subdivisions,  who  had  become  discouraged  by  the  many  physical 
difficulties  interposing  themselves,  and  which  precluded  that  sense  of 
advance^  so  essential  to  spirited  action,  even  in  the  most  indifferent 
laborers.  Notwithstanding  interruptions  from  freshets  and  dispersion 
of  the  force  of  mechanics  twice  after  his  taking  charge  of  the  work, 
the  President  was  able  to  report  the  opening  of  the  road,  through  to 
Columbus,  on  the  period  we  have  named  (18th  January,  1853)  several 
months  in  advance  of  the  time  fixed  for  its  completion  by  the  Chief 
Engineer. 

The  practical  experience  obtained  by  his  personal  supervision  of  the 
work  on  this  difficult  section,  was  doubtless  of  very  considerable  ser- 
vice to  the  Company,  in  enabling  the  President  to  examine  more  criti- 
cally the  estimates  and  reports  from  the  construction  department  of 
the  road,  in  its  after  progress,  east  of  Zanesville.  It  may  also  have 
been  the  secret  of  his  success  in  opening  the  road  through  to  the  river, 
so  much  earlier  than  the  public,  in  view  of  all  the  difficulties  which  had 
to  be  overcome,  anticipated. 

In  the  autumn  of  1852,  the  unlet  portions  of  the  road  between  Zanes- 
ville and  the  Ohio  River,  were  contracted  to  Bradley  &  Whittemore. 
Nearly  a  year's  delay,  in  the  completion  of  the  surveys  and  letting,  is 
said  to  have  been  caused  by  the  course  of  the  city  of  Wheeling,  in 
first  voting  a  subscription  of  .$250,000  to  the  stock  of  the  road,  before 
the  Company  were  ready  to  ask  it  (which,  it  is  thought,  operated  also 
to  cause  a  failure  of  the  first  vote,  in  Belmont  county,  for  a  subscrip- 
tion of  $100,000),  and  afterwards,  when  the  Company  were  read}^  to 
use  the  amount  voted,  declined  giving  it,  unless  with  conditions  in 
regard  to  route,  which  were  deemed  inadmissible.  The  route  that 
6he  stipulated  for,  proved,  by  comparison  of  surveys  and  estimates,  to 
be  more  costly  than  the  route  adopted  by  the  Company,  in  fully  the 
whole  amount  of  her  subscription. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CENTRAL    OUTO    RAILROAD.  19 

Up  to  this  period — and,  indeed,  until  the  opening  of  the  road 
through,  in  1854— the  duties  of  the  management  were  complex  and 
delicate,  and  required  a  combination  of  all  the  tact,  energy,  and  firm- 
ness which  the  Directory  could  muster.  A  portion  of  the  road  was 
opened,  a  portion  under  survey,  a  portion  under  contract ;  contracts 
with  connecting  roads,  which  were  to  exercise,  probably,  a  perpetual 
influence  upon  the  working  results  of  their  charge,  had  to  be  made ; 
subscriptions  of  stock,  which,  when  Mr,  Sullivan  came  into  office,  did 
not  exceed  10,000,  had  to  be  provided,  to  furnish  a  respectable  basis 
for  the  loans  being  made  and  proposed.  All  these  subdivisions  of 
duty  required  continuous  and  concurrent  attention,  and  made  an 
aggregate  of  labor  which  none  but  railroad  builders  can  appre- 
ciate. 

The  obtainment  of  stock  subscriptions  from  a  comnmnity  chiefly 
agricultural — who,  although  the  most  to  be  benefited,  are  sometimes 
the  slowest  to  acknowledge  the  value  of  such  enterprises — proved  to 
be  a  work  of  peculiar  difficulty.  The  authorization  of  county  and 
town  subscriptions,  under  a  special  law,  by  diffusing  the  burden,  made 
the  matter  less  objectionable  to  most ;  but  even  in  such  cases,  all  the 
appliances  of  newspaper  and  pamphlet  publications,  and  stump-speeches 
throughout  most  of  the  territory  interested,  had  to  be  made  available 
to  carry  even  public  subscriptions,  against  the  reluctance  of  the  tax- 
payers. Franklin  county — in  which  is  located  the  capital  city  of  Co- 
lumbus, having  previously  voted  stock  to  the  Cleveland  and  Columbu.s, 
and  the  Columbus  and  Xenia  roads,  by  vote  twice  refused  to  sub.scribe 
to  the  stock  of  the  Central  Ohio  road.  In  Licking,  .^.50.000  was  voted 
by  the  county,  and  .'$10,000  by  the  town  of  Newark.  In  ^Muskingum, 
^250,000  by  the  county,  and  ."^-dO^OOO  by  the  city  of  Zanesvillc.  In 
Guernsey,  ^100,000  by  the  county ;  and  in  Belmont,  on  the  Ohio 
River — after  voting  against  subscription — upon  a  second  trial,  the 
people  voted  $100,000.  The  Columbus  and  Xenia  Railroad  Company 
subscribed  about  $00,000;  citizens  of  Baltimore,  about  $100,000; 
Bradley  &  Whittemore,  the  contractors,  took  about  $200,000.  The 
balance  of  the  stock  list,  which  shows  an  aggregate  of  .$1,626,856.  was 
made  up  principally  along  the  line  of  the  road,  in  individual  subscrip- 
tions. 

In  addition  to  the  labors  which  legitimatel}^  attached  to  the  build- 
ing of  the  road,  the  directory  found,  as  the  work  progressed  step  by 
step,  that  it   was  growing  in    magnitude,  and   reaching  immensely 


20  EXCURSION    or    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

beyond  the  estimates  of  the  locating  engineers.*  There  were  but  few 
of  the  unfinished  roads  of  the  country  upon  which  the  Companies 
engaged  were  not  compelled  to  stop  working,  during  the  excessive 
moneyed  stringency  of  the  last  half  of  1853,  and  the  whole  of  the  year 
1854.  It  was  at  the  period  of  the  greatest  distnist  of  railroad  securi- 
ties, in  those  years,  that  the  Directors  found  themselves  called  upon 
to  provide,  by  loans,  for  the  unexpected  requisitions  of  the  engineers, 
to  an  extent  equal  to  the  original  estimates  of  the  whole  cost  of  the 
road.  INIen  of  weak  nerves  were  staggered ;  but  as  over  $3,000,000 
had  been  expended  upon  the  work,  it  was  a  question  between  the 
practical  annihilation  of  that  amount  of  capital,  together  with  the  still 
more  serious  loss  of  the  road  itself,  on  one  side,  and  the  incurring  of 
a  massive  bonded  and  floating  debt.  The  latter  was  the  choice  of  the 
Directory,  as  the  least  of  two  great  evils. 

In  his  pamphlet  address  to  the  people  of  Muskingum,  in  1848,  upon 
the  subject  of  municipal  subscriptions,  Mr.  Sullivan  had  incidentally 
remarked  that  five  or  six  years  would  elapse  before  the  road  from 
Columbus  to  the  Ohio  river  could  be  built.  It  is  supposed  that  he 
then  little  dreamed  of  being  himself  one  of  the  principal  agents  in  its 
construction ;  and  that  in  just  six  years  and  six  months  from  that 
prediction — with  one  year's  delay,  from  extraneous  influence — he 
should  be  the  first  to  announce  the  opening  of  the  line  through  to 
Bellaire,  and  there  establishing  a  connection  between  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  road,  and  the  indefinitely  expanding  railway  system  of  the 
West !  This  interesting  event  occurred  on  the  1st  of  November, 
1854,  and  was  participated  in  by  a  large  excursion  party,  from  Balti- 
more and  other  Atlantic  cities. 

The  opening  of  the  road  was  attended  with  such  a  rush  of  freights 
and  travel  towards  the  new  channel  of  intercourse,  that  its  managers 
and  friends  seemed  to  be  on  the  eve  of  the  fruition  of  all  their  most 
sanguine  views  in  regard  to  the  enterprise,  when  a  series  of  misfor- 
tunes, commencing  in  December,  1854,  and  running  through  the  whole 
of  the  ensuing  year,  prostrated,  by  blow  after  blow,  all  the  credit  which 
a  careful  nursing  from  the  time  of  its  organization  had  built  up  for  the 

*  The  comparative  estimates  of  the  locating  engineers  for  the  two  routes  from  Ilanna's 
Mills,  near  Cambridge,  to  Bridgeport,  viz. :  the  "  Central  Route,"  so-called— being  the  one 
upon  which  Wheeling  was  willing  to  make  her  subscription— and  the  McMahon's  Creek 
route,  upon  which  the  road  was  finally  located,  were  as  follows:  McMahon's  Creek 
route,  1995,546  43 ;  Central  route,  by  t^t.  Clairsville,  Morristown,  &c.,  $1,257,903  03.  The' 
actuid  cost,  including  discount  upon  bonds,  &c.,  exceeded  the  estimate  by  two  miUiana 
of  dollars. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CENTRAL    OHIO    RAILROAD.  21 

Company — a  credit  which,  up  to  that  time,  had  never  leen  soiled  ly  a 
single  protest. 

The  deficiency  of  side-tracks,  machinery,  and  experienced  men  for 
the  working  of  trains,  would  not  have  exhibited  itself  with  much 
inconvenience,  had  the  business  of  the  road,  as  usual  in  such  cases, 
grown  gradually  with  the  gradual  diffusion  of  information  in  regard  to 
the  value  of  the  route ;  but  the  closing  of  the  Ohio  River  by  ice  in 
December,  threw  suddenly  upon  the  road  the  traffic  usually  accumu- 
lating at  Cincinnati,  for  transportation  by  steamers  to  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Road.  The  want  of  ample  sidings  and  machinery,  at  that 
time,  induced  the  accumulation  and  delay  of  freights,  at  almost  every 
point  on  the  line,  between  Columbus  and  the  river. 

By  the  month  of  July  succeeding,  every  thing  was  beginning  to  work 
smoothly  again,  and  the  confidence  of  the  public  was  gradually  becom- 
ing restored  to  the  line,  when  a  still  greater  temporary  disaster 
occurred,  in  the  fall  of  the  roof  of  the  tunnel  at  Cambridge — which 
obstruction  was  not  removed  until  the  January  succeeding,  and  which, 
for  the  whole  of  that  period,  compelled  a  troublesome  and  expensive 
transfer  of  freights  and  passengers  at  that  point.  It  became,  for  the 
time  being,  practically  a  local  road ;  and  with  diminished  resources, 
increased  expenses,  and  prostrated  credit,  it  could  only  stagger  for- 
ward towards  the  period  when  it  should  appeal  to  the  holders  of  its 
floating  debt  for  a  conversion  of  their  claims  into  a  funded  form.  The 
policy  of  President  Sullivan  having  been  an  entire  abnegation  of  local 
interests,  for  the  sake  of  the  whole  interests  of  the  enterprise  under 
his  charge,  he  had  naturally  rendered  himself  unpopular  with  several 
of  the  communities  along  the  line,  and  near  its  eastern  terminus,  who 
had  over-estimated  the  special  benefits  to  be  conferred  by  the  road. 
Many  of  those  who  had  been  dissatisfied  with  his  policy  during  the 
construction  of  the  road,  were  disposed  to  hold  him  responsible  for  its 
rt'orking  operations,  or  management  since  opened  for  traffic,  although 
that  was,  to  some  extent,  out  of  his  control.  Believing,  however,  that 
the  road  would  be  benefited  by  the  selection  of  a  President  with 
whom  all  its  friends  could  be  satisfied,  Mr.  Sullivan  declined  a  re-elec- 
tion to  the  Directory  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders,  in 
August,  1855  ;  and  recommended  the  selection  of  Elias  Fassett,  of 
New  York,  to  supply  his  place.  Mr.  Fassett  was  elected  to  the  Direc- 
tory, and  then  made  President. 

In  withdrawing  from  an  official  connection  with  the  road,  Mr.  Sul- 
livan adverted  with  much  satisfaction  to  the  cordial  support  which, 


22  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN  AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

with  but  few  exceptions,  he  had  uniformly  received  from  his  colleagues 
and  a  majority  of  the  stockholders,  during  the  whole  seven  years  of 
his  administration.  Without  disparagement  to  the  rest  a  few  may  be 
named,  who  were  conspicuous  in  the  services  they  conferred  upon  the 
Company.  "Wm.  Gahgher,  the  second  Treasurer,  was  always  prompt 
to  give  his  personal  service,  or  the  use  of  his  name,  when  the  credit 
of  the  Company  was  not  sufficient  to  meet  the  exigency.  Mr.  Hosmer, 
the  third  Treasurer,  and  acting  as  such  during  the  whole  of  the  most 
difficult  and  trying  financial  troubles  of  the  Company,  gave  unremitting 
attention — to  the  exclusion,  frequently,  of  personal  considerations 
and  his  private  interests — to  almost  every  department  of  the  road, 
whether  surveys,  construction,  or  management,  of  the  portion  in 
operation. 

Among  those  who  aided,  especially  in  drawing  confidence  to  the 
work  along  the  line  between  Zanesville  and  the  Ohio  River,  should  be 
named  Nehemiah  Wright,  of  Belmont,  and  the  late  John  Hall,  of  Mill- 
wood, in  Guern.sey  county.  These  old  gentlemen  (both  of  the  Quaker 
persuasion)  belonged  to  the  rapidly  thinning  ranks  of  the  pioneers  of 
Ohio,  and  had  long  passed  the  prime  of  life ;  but  their  experience  of 
the  difficulties  of  the  first  settlers,  particularly  in  the  want  of  facilities 
for  transport,  enabled  them  to  appreciate  more  sensibly  than  a  younger 
generation,  the  great  value  of  such  improvements  as  the  railroad. 
Their  clear-headed  views  and  firmness  of  purpose,  always  inspired 
confidence  and  respect  in  the  counsels  of  the  Board,  with  which  they 
were  associated  for  Several  years.  Mr.  Hall  died  in  the  summer  of 
1854.  about  a  week  before  the  track  of  the  road  was  laid  past  his 
house.  He  had  expressed  a  hope  to  live  long  enough  to  hear  the 
approaching  locomotive,  but  was  not  so  favored.  Mr.  Wright  still 
resides  at  his  old  homestead,  at  Belmont,  beloved  and  respected ;  and 
although  a  large  present  suflerer  in  the  depreciation  of  the  stock  and 
securities  of  the  road,  he  takes  much  satisfaction  in  having  aided  to 
accomplish  a  work  so  beneficial  to  the  countrj'  at  large. 

Of  the  present  Board  of  Directors,  there  are  two  only  who  have 
been  with  the  Road  through  all  its  labors  and  trials  :  George  James 
being  one  of  the  first  Board  elected,  with  an  intermission  of  but  one 
year  from  service.  George  B.  Wright  has  been  in  the  Board  uniformly 
since  1849 ;  Charles  B.  Goddard  belonged  to  the  Directory  in  the  first 
two  years  and  during  the  last  two  years ;  having,  however,  been  the 
legal  adviser  of  the  Companj'  since  the  day  of  its  organization. 

William  Wing,  the  present  Secretary  and  Auditor  who  has  occu- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CENTRAL    OHIO    RAILROAD.  23 

pied  that  station  since  September,  1853,  has  proved  himself  a  faithful 
and  valuable  officer. 

Mr.  Fassett  was  the  earliest  financial  agent  of  the  Company,  in  the 
East,  and  by  his  instrumentality  it  was  introduced  to  the  favorable 
attention  of  New  York  capitalists.  Subsequently,  when  all  rail- 
road securities,  on  the  general  merits  of  such  investments,  were  ex- 
cluded from  sale  in  that  city,  by  the  moneyed  revulsion  of  1853,  Messrs. 
Robert  Gan-ett  and  Sons  (upon  the  grounds  of  the  great  importance 
to  the  city  of  Baltimore  and  the  Baltunore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  of  fur- 
nishing means  for  completing  and  equipping  a  practical  extension  of 
their  onlj' western  outlet)  successfully  claimed  the  attention  of  invest- 
ors in  Central  Ohio  securities,  during  the  darkest  period  of  1853-'4,  and 
those  gentlemen,  when  sales  were  no  longer  possible,  except  at  ruinous 
sacrifices,  furnished  from  their  own  resources  funds  to  meet  the  ex- 
igences of  the  Company  in  some  of  its  worst  straits,  ximong  the  fi- 
nancial helps  of  the  Company,  also,  should  not  be  forgotten  the 
"  material  aid  "  provided  by  Chauncy  Brooks,  now  President  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road,  and  by  the  firm  of  Josiah  Lee  &  Co.,  and 
by  others,  who  have  at  least  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  their 
means  and  influence  have  built  up  an  adjunct  to  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad,  which,  next  to  that  great  work,  is  doing  more  than  all 
other  accessories  besides  to  build  up  the  commercial  prosperity  of  their 
beautiful  city. 

The  value  of  the  Central  Ohio  Road  to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  is  already  exhibited  in  an  analysis  of  the  business  of  the 
former  for  the  year  ending  1st  August,  1857.  During  that  period  the 
Central  Road  delivered  to  the  Baltimore  Road  8G,060  tons  of  freight, 
and  received  in  return  34,179,  an  aggregate  of  121,239  tons.  This  is 
regarded  by  the  friends  of  the  road  in  Ohio  and  elsewhere,  as  a  com- 
mensurate return  in  one  year  for  the  loan  of  $100,000  in  six  per  cent, 
bonds,  for  which  she  holds  the  fourth  mortgage  seven  per  cent,  bonds 
of  the  Central  Ohio  Company.  It  cannot,  in  their  view,  be  objected, 
that  an  important  portion  of  this  traffic  would,  without  the  Central 
Road,  have  been  drawn  over  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  bj'  the 
instrumentality  of  the  river.  A  comparison  of  the  business  of  the  Bal- 
timore and  Ohio  Railroad  before  the  completion  of  the  Central  Ohio 
Road,  with  its  business  since,  will  show  that  an  increase  equal  to  the 
statement  above  may  safely  be  assumed. 

Mr.  Fassett  did  not  assume  the  active  duties  of  his  office  until  the 
spring  of  1856.     After  a  second  re-election  he  resigned  the  Presidency 


24        EXCURSION  or  western  authorities  to  the  east. 

(having  also  for  several  months  performed  the  additional  duties  of 
General  Superintendent)  m  October,  1857.  During  his  administra- 
tion, the  larger  portion  of  the  floating  debt  has  been  funded  into  fourth 
mortgage  bonds.  The  receipts  of  the  road  for  the  year  ending  Au- 
gust, 1857,  even  with  a  continued  deficiency  of  machinery,  were  now 
up  to  $712,213  19— a  gain  of  $217,508  57  over  the  preceding  year. 
He  left  the  administration  of  the  Company  with  the  confidence  of  the 
public  in  his  sound  judgment,  integrity,  and  devotion  to  the  interests 
he  had  in  charge.  Mr.  Fassett  was  succeeded  by  H.  J.  Jewett,  the 
late  Vice-President. 

Mr.  Jewett  assumes  the  Presidency  at  a  period  of  unprecedented 
depression  in  the  commerce  of  the  country,  and  a  consequent  diminu- 
tion of  ordinary  revenues  from  all  commercial  avenues.  It  is,  how- 
ever, a  very  gratifying  fact  to  its  friends,  that  the  receipts  of  the 
Central  Ohio  Road  have  not  fallen  ofi"  in  as  great  a  ratio  as  those  of 
the  railroads  of  the  country  generally,  so  that  it  shows  relatkely  a 
gain.  This  is.  doubtless,  owing  largely  to  the  vigilance,  forecast,  and 
judicious  management  of  President  Jewett,  whose  earnest  efforts  and 
unquestioned  ability — aided  by  an  excellent  corps  of  general  officers 
and  agents— are  re-establishing,  very  rapidly,  the  original  confidence 
felt  by  its  friends  in  this  enterprise. 

The  Fifth  Annual  Report  of  the  Company,  by  President  Sullivan,  uses 
the  following  language  in  relation  to  the  business  position  of  the  road : 

Every  additional  development  in  the  rapidly  changing  character  of  the 
business  relation.s  of  the  country  have  only  induced  additional  confidence  in 
the  strength  of  our  position,  and  additional  satisfaction  with  the  location  of 
the  Central  Ohio  Road. 

The  intense  activity  and  interest  -which  the  minds  of  our  people  manifest 
at  this  time  in  public  works  have  already  developed  all  the  projects  of  Rail- 
roads for  Ohio  wliich  are  likely  to  be  indicated  for  many  years  to  come,  and 
more  than  can  be  built  at  this  time.  But  amidst  them  all,  between  a  fortunate 
combination  of  circumstances  and  the  topography  of  the  countiy  north  and 
south  of  our  line  there  is  no  road  yet  projected,  nor  likely  to  be,  that  will  ab- 
stract any  important  portion  of  our  local  trade ;  whilst  for  through  business 
our  geographical  position  is  such  as  to  leave  us  without  an  even-handed  com- 
petitor. ^^'e  are  aware  that  rival  interests  have  endeavored  to  depreciate  the 
value  of  our  geographical  position  by  a  reference  to  the  grades  and  curvature 
to  which  we  shall  be  subjected  for  about  thirty  miles  through  the  county  of 
Belmont.  The  comparison  of  roads  by  their  maximum  grades  is  a  A"ery  falla- 
cious way  of  judging  of  value.  A  frequent  succession  of  grades  of  50  feet  to 
the  mile  over  a  stretch  of  line  of  20,  50  or  a  100  miles  in  extent,  is  certainly 
much  more  objectionable  than  the  occurrence  of  a  gi'ade  of  76  feet  to  the  mile 
at  the  passage  of  a  siiir/le  summit  in  a  long  line  of  road,  especially  if  a  large 
portion  of  the  balance  of  the  road  is  lecel,  or  practically  so.  The  measure  of 
objection  upon  the  score  of  grades,  if  they  be  workable  at  all  with  a  single 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CENTRAL    OHIO    RAILROAD.  25 

engine,  is  not  the  inclination  of  any  particular  plane  so  much  as  their  fre- 
quency of  occurrence  and  their  disposition — their  relation  to  each  other.  In 
view  of  this  the  distinguished  engineer,  Mr.  Latrobe,  introduced  into  the  loca- 
tion of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road  maximum  grades  of  IIG  feet  to  the  mile, 
instead  of  80  feet  to  the  mile,  with  less  favorable  "disposition."  In  the  matter 
of  curves  we  have  no  portion  of  our  line,  between  Zanesville  and  the  Oliio  river, 
with  such  striue'eut  curvature  as  some  that  exists  upon  the  road  between 
Zanesville  and  Kewark,  and  yet  the  latter  portion  of  the  road  we  have  run, 
under  schedule,  35  miles  per  hour. 

We  have  no  hesitancy  in  expressing  the  belief  that  in  alignment  and  grades 
our  road  and  its  affiliate  lines  south-westwardly,  westward,  and  north-westerly, 
may  claim  at  least  an  equalify  with  the  best  lines  radiating  from  Pittsburg 
and  Wheeling,  or  branching  from  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road;  whilst  in 
lineal  distance, — with  the  exception  of  the  Parkersburg  route  between  Balti- 
more and  Cincinnati, — it  will  be  a  part  of  the  shortest  line  of  communication 
between  Washington,  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  New  York,  in  the  East, 
and  the  capitals  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Missouri,  and  the  cities  of  Cincinnati, 
Louisville,  and  St.  Louis,  in  the  West.  With  reference  even  to  the  Parkers- 
burg route  from  Baltimore,  we  believe  that  the  superiority  of  the  Central  line 
west  of  Zanesville,  through  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  in  point  of  grades  and 
cun'ature,  over  the  route  through  the  more  broken  region  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Ohio  river,  together  with  an  exemption  J'rum  the  delay  to  which  travel  will  be 
exposed  in  transfer  through  the  citij  of  Cincinnati,  from  the  eastern  to  the  toestern 
lines  and  a  like  exemption  from  the  expense  of  transferring  freights,  will  make  the 
great  Central  rouie  the  favorite  line  of  travel  between  St.  Louis  and  Baltimore 
and  Washington.  As  preparatory'  for  this  result,  an  unbroken  chain  of  rail- 
roads for  the  whole  route  is  partly  built  or  in  process  of  construction,  and  will 
be  soon  complete.  Taking  up  the  line  of  our  connections  at  Columbus,  the 
Columbus  and  Xenia  Road,  by  the  instrumentality  of  the  Xenia  and  Dayton 
Road,  will  be  practically  extended  to  Dayton.  The  Dayton  and  Western  Rail- 
road is  in  operation  to  the  Indiana  State  line.  From  there  the  Indiana  Cen- 
tral— (with  which  the  Dayton  and  Western  is  consolidated) — will  be  complete 
to  Indianapolis  hi  the  coming  month  of  October.  From  Indianapolis  to  Terre 
Haute  the  road  is  in  successful  operation.  From  TeiTe  Haute  to  Alton,  on  the 
Mississippi,  within  25  miles  of  St.  Louis,  the  whole  line  is  under  contract.  For 
the  construction  of  a  road  from  Terre  Haute  to  St.  Louis  direct,  another  Com- 
pany is  organized ;  but  with  some  legislative  obstructions  thrown  in  their  way, 
by  what  is  called  "  Illinois  policy,''  they  are  yet  delayed  in  their  work.  From 
Indianapolis  another  magniticent  chain  of  roads  stretching  to  St.  Joseph's,  on 
the  IMisSMiri,  and  all  of  which,  except  about  37  miles,  are  eitlier  built  or  under 
contract,  lies  under  this  same  iUth  parallel  of  north  latitude,  along  which 
the  Central  Ohio  and  the  Indiana  Central  Railways  are  laid. 

These  several  interests  we  indicate  as  constituting  the  Grand  Central 
Trunk  Line,  which,  taking  into  consideration  either  perfectness  of  relation  to 
the  east  and  west  business  of  the  countiy,  fertility  of  soil,  density  of  population 
or  its  affluence  of  general  trade,  is  not  now  equalled  in  the  valley  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  will  never  be  surpassed. 

It  is  needless  to  tax  your  patience  with  a  list  of  the  roads  destined  to  be 
tributary  to  this  great  Arterial  Line;  but  a  glance  at  the  map  of  Ohio,  Indi- 
ana, and  Illinois,  with  the  various  roads  converging  upon  the  central  route, 
will  show  the  propriety  of  the  order  which  we  have  made  to  adjust  our  tunnels 
and  masonry  with  a  view  to  a  double  track. 


26  EXCURSION   OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST.  " 

But  without  confining  its  relations  to  the  line  of  connections 
through  Central  Indiana  to  St.  Louis,  the  Central  Ohio  Road  may  le- 
gitimately claim  to  form  a  medium  of  transit  between  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Road  at  Cincinnati,  and  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road  as 
well  as  the  southern  route.  The  controlling  question  for  both  trade 
and  travel,  is  not  the  comparative  lineal  distances  upon  respective 
competing  routes ;  but  first,  the  character  of  the  connections  ;  secondly, 
the  character  of  the  towns  passed  and  the  country  traversed;  the  ac- 
commodations upon  the  line,  and  the  punctuality  of  the  trains.  In  all 
these  elements  of  just  consideration,  the  Central  Ohio  Road  is  not 
surpassed  by  any  road  in  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  The  road  is 
substantially  built,  the  machinery  superior,  and  the  accuracy  with 
which  the  trains  have  been  run  upon  it,  has  been  the  subject  of  spe- 
cial comment  in  the  Postmaster-General's  Report. 

The  present  Officers  of  the  Central  Ohio  Railroad  are  : 

H.  J.  JEWETT,  President  and  General  Superintendent. 

J.  W.  BALDWIN,  Vice  President. 

DANIEL  APPLEGATE,  Treasurer. 

WM.  WING,  Secretary  and  Auditor. 

JAMES  BULL,  Master  Machinist  and  Assistant  Superintendent. 

D.  S.  GRAY,  Master  of  Transportation  and  General  Freight  Agent. 
J.  W.  BROWN,  General  Ticket  Agent. 

E.  A.  WILKES,  Engmeer  and  Master  of  Road. 


THE 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF   1857. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

INVITATIOJTS    AND   AEEANGEMENTS    FOE   THE    EXCUESION    TO 
BALTIMORE. 

The  idea  of  the  excursion  of  the  TVestem  authorities  to  Baltimore 
and  vicinitj' — as  explained  in  the  Introduction  to  this  portion  of  our 
volume — having  been  once  received,  the  arrangements  that  were  ne- 
cessary to  perfect  and  carry  it  out,  were  initiated  and  undertaken  by 
the  President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road,  and  its  Directors,  Offi- 
cers, and  Agents. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1857,  the  President  addressed  the  following 
communication  to  the  Mayor  of  St.  Louis ;  similar  formal  invitations 
being  also  forwarded  to  the  authorities  of  Cincinnati  and  Chillicothe. 
The  Company's  General  Western  Agent,  John  M.  Sharp,  was  in  the 
meantime  activelj"  co-operating  in  extending  its  courtesies — with  those 
of  the  uniting  roads,  the  Little  Miami  and  Central  Ohio — among  such 
of  the  Cincinnatians  as  were  expected  to  participate  in  the  alfair. 

Besides  the  authorities  proper,  many  of  the  most  distinguished 
and  public-spirited  of  the  citizens  of  the  western  towns  were  invited, 
but  it  was  found  that  the  hurry  and  consequent  want  of  formality  in- 
cident to  the  short  interval  first  fixed  at  Cincinnati  for  the  visit,  pre- 
vented many  of  them  from  accompanying  the  excursion. 

President's  Office,  Biiltiniore  and  Ohio  Eailroad  Company,  1 
Baltimoue,  July  6, 1S5T.  j" 

Hon.  John  M.  AVijiI'IK,  Mayor  St.  Louis : 

Sir — This  Company,  as  a  fiiint  acknowleilgraent  of  the  generous  mnuncr  in 

which  the  authorities  and  citizens  of  St.  Louis  welcomed  its  representatives 


28  EXCURSION    OF    WESTEEX    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

upon  the  occasion  of  the  kite  celebration  of  the  opening  of  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi Railroad,  respectfully  tenders  to  you,  and  also,  through  you  to  the  City 
Councils  of  St.  Louis,  a  cordial  invitation  to  pass  over  its  roads  to  Baltimore 
and  Washington,  at  such  time  as  may  be  best  suited  to  your  convenience. 

We  have  the  assurance  of  the  intermediate  lines  of  railroad,  that  it  ^vill  be 
equally  agreeable  to  them  to  extend  the  freedom  of  their  respective  portions 
of  the  through  line  which  unites  us  with  St.  Louis. 

It  has  been  intimated  to  us  that  the  authorities  of  Cincinnati  propose  ac^ 
cepting  a  similar  invitation  for  the  16th  instant. 

If  agreeable  to  you  and  your  associates  in  authority,  to  join  them  at  that 
time,  we  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  at  the  earliest  moment,  so  that  we 
can  promptly  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  trip. 

We  have  heard  very  general  expressions  of  a  desire  upon  the  pai-t  of  our 
citizens,  that  they  might  have  on  opportunity  to  welcome  you  to  Baltimore, 
and  also  are  advised  that  our  municipal  authorities  are  liiiely  to  add  their 
oiBcial  civilities  in  some  earnest  form. 

Awaiting  yovur  response,  I  remain 

Your  obedient  servant, 

C.  BROOKS,  President. 

To  this  invitation,  Mr.  Brooks  received  the  following  answer  by 

return  mail,  having  previously  heard  from  the  Cincinnati  and  Chilli- 

cothe  authorities  through  the  Company's  General  Travelling  Agent  at 

the  West.    ■ 

Mayor's  Office,  St.  Louis,  July  10, 1867. 

Hon.  C.  Brooks,  President  of  Baltimore  and 

Ohio  RaOroad,  Baltimore : 

Sir — Your  kind  invitation  to  the  authorities  of  this  city  to  pass  over  your 

road,  has  been  received  and  accepted.     A  large  portion  of  the  City  Council 

wiU  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  thus  presented  of  visiting  your  city. 

Very  respectfully, 

JOHN  M.  T\TMER,  Mat/or. 

It  having  been  definitely  ascertained  that  the  authorities  of  St. 
Louis.  Cincinnati,  and  Chillicothe  had  accepted  the  invitation  extended 
by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  the  city  authorities  of  Baltimore 
prepared  to  take  their  appropriate  part  in  the  ceremonies  of  reception 
and  entertainment.  Hon.  Thomas  Swaun,  Mayor  of  the  city — who  was 
himself  the  President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road  for  five  of  the 
most  eventful  years  of  its  history — addressed  the  Council,  then  in  ses- 
sion, on  the  subject,  and  appropriate  action  was  promptly  taken.  A 
resolution  was  adopted  inviting  the  authorities  of  the  three  western 
cities  named,  to  become  the  guests  of  the  city  of  Baltimore  during  their 


ACTION'    OF    MAYOR    AND    COCNCIL    OF    BALTIMORE.  29 

stay;  appropriate  executive  and  supervisory  committees  were  appointed, 
and  all  the  necessary  arrangements  made  for  giving  the  City's  guests 
a  whole-hearted  Maryland  welcome.  Mayor  Swann  sent  bj-  telegraph 
the  following  invitation  to  the  Mayors  of  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  and 
Chillicothe. 

Mayor's  Office,  City  Hall,  Baltimoke,  Juhj  13, 1867. 
I  am  authorized  by  the  authorities    of  the  city  of  Baltimore  to  invite  you 
most  cordially  to  become  the  guests  of  our  city  on  your  amval  here  by  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  on  the  18th  instant.     We  trust  that  your  city 
authorities  will  be  fully  represented. 

THOMAS  SWANN,  Mayor. 

On  the  same  day  Maj'or  Swann  forwarded  the  annexed  dispatch  to 
Govs.  Henry  A.  Wise,  at  Richmond,  Virginia ;  T.  W.  Ligon,  at  An- 
napolis, Maryland;  Salmon  P.  Chase,  at  Columbus,  Ohio;  Ashbel  P. 
Willard,  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana ;  Wm.  H.  Russell,  at  Springfield,  Il- 
linois ;  and  Hancock  Jackson,  at  Jefferson  City,  Missouri. 

Mayor's  OflSce,  City  Hall,  Baltimoee,  July  13,  1857. 
I  am  instructed  by  the  city  authorities  of  Baltimore,  to  invite  you  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  ceremonies  attendant  upon  the  reception  of  the  corporate  au- 
thorities of  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  and  Chillicothe,  by  the  city  of  Baltimore,  on 
the  18th  instant.  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Eailroad  and  its  associate  lines 
will  send  you  travelling  tickets  for  the  excursion  in  due  season.  Please  reply 
early. 

THOMAS  SAV..VNN,  Mayor. 

On  the  15th,  Mayor  Swann  received  a  number  of  letters  and  dis- 
patches in  reply  to  those  he  forwarded  on  the  13th.  Gov.  Ligon,  of 
Maryland,  in  a  brief  note,  expressed  his  thanks  for  the  invitation,  and 
concluded  thus : 

Having  been  much  indisposed  for  a  week  or  ten  days  past,  and  having  at 
present  a  very  sick  child,  I  can  hardly  expect  to  be  in  Baltimore  on  either  of 
the  days  during  the  sojourn  of  your  guests  in  the  city,  but  if  not  prevented  by 
either  of  these  causes,  1  will  endeavor  to  be  with  you  on  ^londay  for  the  ban- 
quet ceremonies  to  your  city's  guests. 

EiCHMOXD,  Virginia,  July,  13, 1857. 
To  Thos.  Swan-s,  Esq.,  Mayor  of  Baltimore  : 

jjfar  Sir — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  your  dispatch  of  to-day,  inviting 
mf%  in  the  name  of  the  eity  authorities  of  Baltimore,  to  participate  in  the  cer- 
emonies of  receiving  the  corporate  authorities  of  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  and 
Chillicothe  by  the  city  of  Baltimore,  on  the  18th  inst.  I  beg  you  to  accept 
my  acknowledgment  of  this  compUment,  and  to  assure  the  city  authorities  of 
Baltimore  that  I  would  take  great  pleasure  in  accepting  their  invitation,  but 


30  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

the  urgency  of  my  duties  and  the  state  of  my  health  will  not  allow  me  to 
partake  of  their  hospitality,  as  they  propose. — You  have  my  most  heartfelt 
interest  in  the  great  works  which  link  you  with  the  cities  whose  corporate 
authorities  are  to  be  your  honored  guests,  and  I  tender  to  you  all,  sir,  my  sin- 
cere congratulations.  I  trust  that  this  is  but  the  beginning  of  lines  to  connect 
the  East  and  West  as  far  south  as  the  Chesapeake  bay,  and  that  every  year, 
for  many  to  come,  shall  call  us  to  celebrate  the  completion  of  new  national 
union  and  thought. 

With  my  thanks  to  the  Baltimore   and  Ohio  Railroad  and  its  associate 
lines,  for  their  tender  of  tickets  for  the  excursion,  I  am,  with  the  highest  respect, 
Your  obedient  servant,  HENRY  A.  WISE. 

Telegram  to  the  Railroad  Company. 

Cincinnati,  July  15. 
Gov.  Chase,  of  Ohio,  and  suite,  have  accepted,  and  will  certainly  be  in  Bal- 
timore. Gov.  Willard,  of  Indiana,  has  been  compelled  to  decline.  Nothing 
definite  has  yet  been  heard  of  the  other  Governors  invited.  The  Chamber  of 
Commerce  of  (  incinnati  will  send  a  committee.  One  hundred  and  twenty-five 
excursionists  left  St.  Louis  this  evening.  On  their  arrival  here  they  will  be 
the  guests  of  the  city  of  Cincinnati.  Mr.  Coleman,  of  the  Burnet  House,  has 
invited  the  entire  party  to  dine  at  that  establishment  to-morrow.  The  au- 
thorities of  Chillicothe  will  meet  the  excursionists  at  Grafton. 

Whilst  the  proposed  excursion  had  been  so  happily  suggested  by 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  the  officers  of  that  corporation, 
in  conjunction  with  the  city  authorities,  had  made  the  preliminary 
arrangements  for  the  conveyance  and  reception  of  the  guests,  the 
people  of  Baltimore  were  eagerly  waiting  the  moment  that  permitted 
their  active  co-operation.  The  acceptance  of  the  invitation,  and  the 
designation  of  the  time  at  which  the  excursionists  would  start,  per- 
mitted this,  and  the  citizens  were  immediately  called  together  to  offer 
their  assistance  in  giving  to  the  occasion  the  impress  of  popular  enthu- 
siasm and  approval. 

Pursuant  to  a  previous  call  numerously  signed,  a  town  meeting 
was  held  in  the  rotunda  of  the  Baltimore  Exchange,  on  the  13th  July. 
On  motion  of  Gen.  Columbus  O'Donnell.  S.  Owings  Hoffman,  State 
Senator,  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  upon  motion  of  Dr.  II.  Willis 
Baxley,  W.  Pinckney  AVhyte  was  chosen  Secretary. 

The  President  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting  to  be  to  make  pre- 
paration for  an  extension,  by  the  merchants  and  citizens  generally,  of 
the  hospitalities  of  the  city  to  the  representatives  of  the  cities  of  St. 
Louis.  Cincinnati,  and  Chillicotlie. 


MEETING    OF   THE    CITIZENS    OP    BALTIMORE.  31 

John  "W.  Garrett  nominated  Wm.  McKim.  Enoch  Pratt,  Robert  R. 
Kirkland,  Thomas  C.  Jenkins,  Albert  Schumacher,  Wm  Crichton, 
Wm.  F.  Brune,  Wm.  D.  Miller,  and  Wm.  J.  Albert  for  Vice  Presi- 
dents of  the  meeting,  and  the  nominations  were  unanimously  con- 
firmed. 

The  same  gentleman  nominated  Dr.  H.  Willis  Baxley  as  Secretary, 
in  addition  to  W.  P.  Whyte.  This  nomination  was  unanimously  con- 
firmed. 

Gen.  O'Donnell  offered  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions, 
which  were  adopted  (the  number  of  the  Financial  Committee,  fifteen, 
is  an  amendment  offered  by  Gen.  O'Donnell,  the  number  first  named 
being  smaller.  The  appointment  of  two  committees,  one  of  finance 
and  one  of  arrangements,  was  suggested  by  Dr.  Baxley)  : 

"  Whereas,  It  has  been  announced  to  this  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Balti- 
more, representing  all  classes,  social,  commercial,  and  mechanical,  that  the 
corporate  authorities  of  our  sister  cities,  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  and  Chillicothe, 
together  with  the  Goveruors  of  several  States  of  our  Union,  and  a  number  of 
prominent  and  distinguished  citizens  of  the  West,  purpose  making  a  visit  to 
this  city  on  the  18th  inst. ;  and 

"  Whereas,  Apart  from  the  social  and  commercial  ties  which  have  so  long 
bound  us  together,  the  citizens  of  Baltimore  feel  that  they  have  a  return  to 
make  for  the  generous  hospitalities  extended  to  them  during  the  late  celebra- 
tion of  the  great  American  central  line  of  railroad,  connecting,  by  a  continuous 
chain,  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Mississippi  : 

"  Jiesolved,  That  a  grand  banquet,  to  take  place  at  the  Maryland  Institute, 
on  Monday  next,  the  2dth  inst.,  be  given  by  the  citizens  of  Baltimore,  in  honor 
of  their  distinguished  guests. 

"  Rpsolred,  That  a  financial  committee  of  fifteen  be  appointed  by  the  Chair, 
to  procure  the  necessary  subscriptions ;  an  executive  committee  of  three,  to 
make  arrangements,  in  conjunction  with  the  city  authorities  and  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad  Company,  to  carry  out  the  purposes  of  this  meeting  in  a  manner 
creditable  to  the  character  of  our  city,  and  worthy  the  distinguished  guests 
who  propose  to  honor  us  by  their  presence,  and  to  act  in  concert  with  our 
public;  authorities,  in  contributing  to  their  comfort  and  entertainment  during 
their  sojourn  among  us. 

'■^Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  fifteen  be  appointed  by  the  Chair,  to  act 
in  concert  with  the  committee  ap])ninterl  by  the  corporate  authorities  of  our 
city,  and  the  committee  of  the  Baltimore  anrl  Obio  Railroad  Company,  to  pro- 
ceed to  some  point  on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  to  extend 
to  the  invited  guests  a  cordial  welcome  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  Balti- 
more." 

The  President,  expressing  a  desire  that  the  meeting  should  know 
what  arrangements  the  city  had  made,  Mayor  Swanu  spoke  in  support 
of  the  resolutions. 


32  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

He  said  that  he  had  come  there  merely  as  a  citizen,  to  take  part  in  devis- 
ing measures  suitable  to  the  occasion  ;  but  in  support  of  the  resolutions,  he 
would  say  that  the  city  authorities  had  been  actively  engaged,  for  two  days 
past,  in  making  arrangements  for  the  reception  of  the  visitors.  He  understood 
that,  in  the  celebration  which  took  place  on  a  recent  occasion,  the  citizens  of 
St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the  proceedings  attendant 
on  that  great  jubilee.  The  city  council  had  appointed  a  committee,  with  full 
power  to  make  aiTangements  which  would  be  of  a  character  corresponding  with 
the  character  of  the  city,  and  with  the  receptions  at  St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  visitors  at  the  Camden  station,  Baltimore,  they  will 
be  received  on  Ihe  part  of  the  city  by  the  military  and  other  associations,  that 
may  think  proper  to  unite  in  the  reception.  They  will  parade  through  the 
streets,  so  as  to  give  them  a  just  view  of  the  improvements  going  on,  and 
which  we  think  are  such  as  to  give  them  a  proper  idea  of  our  position  as  a 
sea-port.  They  will  proceed  to  the  Hall  of  the  Maryland  Institute,  where  they 
will  be  received  by  the  corporate  authorities.  It  will  then  be  late,  and  they 
will  be  conducted  to  their  hotels,  and  rest  till  evening.  At  night  there  will  be 
a  display  of  fireworks  in  ilonument  Square.  On  Monday  night  there  will  be 
a  banquet  at  the  Maryland  Institute,  in  which  it  is  designed  that  the  citizens 
generally,  wthout  distinction,  shall  participate.  For  that  object,  in  part, 
this  meeting  had  been  called.  He  hoped  that  the  spirit  manifested  would  be 
creditable  to  the  city,  and  commensurate  with  our  mercantile  connection  with 
the  West. 

On  this  occasion,  the  first  which  has  been  afforded  to  the  citizens  of  Balti- 
more to  manifest  their  feeling  towards  the  West,  a  spirit  should  be  manifested 
which  would  justify  our  claim  to  a  position  as  one  of  the  leading  cities  on  the 
seaboard. 

The  resolutions  were  then  carried  unanimously. 

On  motion,  the  President  of  the  meeting  was  made  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  of  Reception, 

The  following  gentlemen  composed  the  respective  committees,  on 
the  part  of  the  citizens  : — 

Executke   Committee. 
WM.  J.  ALBERT, 
CHARLES  M.  KEYSER, 
DR.  II.  WILLIS  BAXLEY. 

Committee  on  Finance. 
Laurence  Thompson,      Joseph  H.  Rieman,         J.  J.  Turner, 
Henry  M.  Warfield,       Wni.  f !  ilmor,  Dr.  J.  Hanson  Thomas 


ARRANGEMENTS   OF    JOINT    COMMITTEES.  33 

C.  Oliver  O'Donnell,      R.  M.  Kirkland,  Wm.  E.Mayhew,  Jr., 

Z.  Collins  Lee,  C.  D.  Slinghuff,  \Ym.  Gil.  Meredith, 

Wm.  Devries,  Wm.  H.  Keighler,  G.  A.  Henderson. 

Committee    on  Reception. 

S.  0 wings  Hoffman,        Geo.  P.  Kane,  Wm.  Pinkncy  TVhyte, 

J.  >rorrison  Harris,         Beale  H.  Richardson,  A.  S.  Abell, 

Jacob  Trust,  Robert  A.  Dobbin,  A.  Kennedy, 

Moore  N.  Falls,  W.  H.  Graham,  C.  C.  Jamieson, 

W.  H.  Young,  Wm.  T.  Walters,  Wm.  Chesnut, 

Galloway  Cheston. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  appointed  by  the  City  Council 
met  on  the  evening  of  the  13th,  at  the  Mayor's  office.  At  this  meet- 
ing the  Railroad  Company  was  represented  by  Messrs.  Garrett,  Van- 
sant,  and  Turner — a  special  committee  of  its  Directors.  A  large  num- 
ber of  the  members  of  both  branches  of  the  City  Council  were  also 
present. 

Mayor  Swann  presided,  and  ilr.  Siedenstricker  acted  as  Secretary. 

The  Mayor  suggested  that  the  members  of  the  Council  resolve 
themselves  into  a  committee  of  the  whole,  whose  duty  it  would  be  to 
receive  the  visitors  at  the  depot,  and  make  them  at  home — the  mem- 
bers of  the  Council  to  be  designated  by  a  badge. 

Mr.  Vansant  said  that  the  Railroad  Company  would  be  very  happy 
if  the  members  of  the  Council  would  go  up  the  road  with  the  com- 
mittee which  is  to  meet  the  visitors.  In  reply  to  this,  Mr.  Sieden- 
stricker said  it  would  be  inexpedient,  as  the  presence  of  the  members 
would  be  needed  in  the  city. 

It  was  arranged,  however,  that  a  joint  committee  of  the  Councils 
should  leave  Baltimore  on  Friday  morning,  to  meet  the  visitors  at 
Cumberland,  180  miles  distant. 

Messrs.  Forrest,  Wilson,  and  Tidy  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
secure  the  Maryland  Institute,  and  to  retain  the  galleries  of  the  Hall 
for  the  exclusive  use  of  the  ladies. 

The  Chief  ^Marshal  was  authorized  to  procure  music. 

Manj"-  other  details  were  provided  for  before  the  meeting  adjourned. 

The  annexed  very  courteous  and  creditable  letter  was  received  by 
the  President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  on  the  15th  July, 
from  the  President  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington,  and  Baltimore 
Railroad  Company,  viz. : 


34  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

OflSce  Philadelphia,  'Wilminprton  and  Baltimore  E.  E.  Co.,  J 
PUILADELPHIA,  Jidy  14,  18o7.  J 

Chaunct  Brooks,  Esq.,  President  Bait,  and  Ohio  R.  R., 

Dear  Sii — Having  understood  that  the  City  CouncUs  of  Cincinnati,  and  St. 
Louis,  and  Chillicothe,  are  about  to  visit  Baltimore,  as  the  guests  of  your  Com- 
pany and  your  city,  I  have  thought  that  perhaps  it  might  be  agreeable  for  them 
to  visit  this  city,  and  I  therefore,  through  you,  tender  them  a  free  passage  over 
our  road  to  Philadelphia  and  return  to  Baltimore.  I  regret  exceedingly  that 
I  am  obliged  to  be  absent,  to  fulfil  an  engagement  made  some  time  since,  and 
that  I  shall  be  thus  deprived  of  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  and  them.  Will 
you  also  tender  to  the  committee  of  your  Company,  and  your  City  Comicils, 
an  invitation  to  accompany  their  guests  to  Philadelphia  and  return. 

Yours  truly,  S.  M.  FF''''Vi'^. 

Besides  the  above,  invitations  were  thus  earlj  tendered  by  the 
liberal  President  of  the  magnificent  Bay  Line  of  Steamers,  running 
between  Baltimore,  Norfolk,  and  Portsmouth,  through  George  R. 
Vickers,  one  of  its  Directors,  for  the  guests  to  visit  those  cities,  and 
enjoy  the  pleasures  incidental  to  the  summer  trip  of  their  splendid 
boats. 

Invitations  to  visit  the  city  of  Washington  were  also  in  contempla- 
tion, and  the  most  ample  preparations  made,  to  extend  the  largest 
and  most  general  hospitalities  to  the  expected  guests. 


RAILWAY    CELEBRATIONS   OF  1857. 


CHAPTER    Y. 

THE  TRIP  FEOM  ST.  LOUIS  AND  CINCINNATI  TOWARDS  BALTIMORE. 

The  guests  from  St.  Louis,  representing  the  authorities,  as  well  as 
the  commercial  and  social  worth  of  that  great  Western  emporium, 
left  the  city  on  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  July,  en  route  for  Cincin- 
nati, over  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad.  The  interest  which  the 
St.  Louis  people  felt  in  this  then  recently  opened  road,  heightened 
their  interest  in  the  excursion  generally ;  and  to  many  of  them,  who 
were  then  to  make  their  first  transit  over  what  is  by  them  regarded  as, 
par  excellence^  the  St.  Louis  Railroad,  every  mile  of  this  great  high- 
way between  the  two  principal  Western  rivers  had  its  suggestions  of 
a  great  accomplished  work,  from  which  the  enterprise  of  their  city  was 
to  reap  the  greatest  benefits.  And  the  road  is  worthy  of  the  enthusi- 
asm which  its  completion  originated. 

Starting  from  the  Illinois  side  of  the  Mississippi,  it  intersects  five 
independent  Railroads  ere  it  reaches  the  Ohio  at  Cincinnati,  namely : 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  to  Cairo,  on  the  south  and  northward  to 
Chicago  and  the  entire  north-west ;  the  Evansville  and  Terre  Haute 
Railroad  to  Evansville ;  the  New  Albany  and  Salem  Railroad  to  New 
Albanjr,  Indiana ;  the  Jeffersonville  Railroad,  from  Indianapolis  to 
Louisville ;  the  ^ladison  and  Indianapolis,  running  to  those  cities. 
Thu.s,  for  its  entire  distance,  it  may  emphatically  be  called  an  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  Valley  improvement.  Looking  at  this  road  in  this  as- 
pect, it  derives  a  double  importance  and  value,  for  it  is  generally  con- 
ceded that  the  Ohio  River  is  really  the  great  origin  and  generator  of  all 
the  commercial  business  on  the  two  hundred  thousand  square  miles 
which  constitute  the  area  drained  by  that  river,  an  area  large  enough 


36  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

to  be,  and  which  is,  actually  occupied  by  five  large  and  prosperous 
States. 

Previous  to  leaving  St.  Louis,  the  guests  who  had  accepted  the  in- 
vitation, were  each  provided  with  a  ticket,  by  Mr.  John  M.  Sharp,  the 
Western  Travelling  Agent  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  who 
had  been  charged  with  this  duty  for  want  of  time  to  undertake  greater 
formalities  on  the  part  of  his  Company.  These  tickets — which  were 
fully  recognized  by  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Company — bore  on  one 
side  the  following  words : 

GREAT  NATIONAL    RAILWAY    EXCURSION! 

COMPOSED    OF   THE 

LITTLE  MIAMI,  CENTRAL  OHIO, 

AND 

Baltimore  and  ohio  railroads. 

Pass 

^^^°  This  Ticket  is  good  until  August  1,  1857. 

JACOB   STRADER,   President  L.  M.  R.  R. 
E.  FASSETT,  President  C.  0.  R.  R. 
C.  BROOKS,  President  B.  &  0.  R.  R. 

J.  M.  Sh.vkp,  General  Western  Agent. 

July  lOth,  1857. 

J^"  Conductors  will  make  one  punch  going,  and  one  returning,  opposite 

the  name  of  their  road. 

Endorsed  S.  M.  Colk, 

General  Ticket  Agent,  B.  and  Ohio  Railroad. 

On  the  reverse  side  of  this  ticket  was  inscribed: 

The  following  roads  have  agreed  to  pass  the  parties  named  thereon  over 
their  respective  i-oads  : 

Little  Miami, 

Central  Ohio, 

BALTIMOnE    AND    OlIIO. 

Excursionists  wishing  to  go  further  East  than  Baltimore,  will  he  furnished 
other  tickets  in  that  city. 

Excursionists  leave  St.  Louis  on  the  evening  of  the  15th  inst. 
"  "      Cincinnati  on  the  evening  of  the  16th  inst. 

Fortified  with  these  talismanic  pieces  of  pasteboard — which  opened 
their  way  alike  to  railway  cars,  cities,  and  the  hearts  of  the  people. 
M'ho  were  eagerly  expecting  their  visit — the  St.  Louis  guests,  as  we 


NAMES   OF   THE    ST.    LOUIS    EXC^JKSIONISTS. 


37 


have  before  stated,  left  that  city  on  the  evening  of  Wednesday,  the  loth 
of  Jul}',  and,  after  a  pleasant  night's  ride,  reached  Cincinnati  in  due 
course  next  moi-ning. 

The  annexed  is  a  list  of  the  excursionists  from  St.  Louis,  as  far  as 
they  could  be  obtained  at  the  time : 


C.  R.  Anderson, 
Chari.es  H.  Tillson, 
Amedee  Valle, 
Dr.  E.  M.  Powers, 
J.  Sexton,  jr., 


Board  of    AMeiT)ien. 

John  H.  Fisse, 

C.  L.   CoLMAN, 

Cii.\RLES  W.  Horn, 
Henry  C.  Lynch, 
C.  C.  Simmons. 


Board  of  Delegates. 

Fred.  Bcschjian, 
Conrad  Doll, 
S.  J.  Levi. 


J.  R   DOBYNS, 

F.  A,  McDonald, 
David  Moore, 
F.  S.  Nelson, 

CUi/  Officers,  S^-c. 

James  Waugh,  Auditor's  Office,  Bernard  Cricher, 

J.  J.  Baker,  (Clerk  of  Board  of  Dele-  Wm.  Groshen,  (St.  L.  N.  G.) 

gates),  Lafayette  Wilson, 
Dr.  0.  C.  Johnson,  Resident  Physician  H.  H.  Lindell, 

of  Hospital,  D.  C.  Tuttle, 

Jos.  M.  Maghan,  J.  \V.  Jenkins, 

Charles  Rogers,  John  Francisco, 

Wm.  B.  Orrick,  George  A.  Goodlett, 

Richard  F.  Barky,  Wm.  C.  Wilcox, 

T.  W.  Gilmer,  Lieut.  Walker,  U.  S.  A. 

Aug.  W.  Lewis.  Charles  A.  Ely, 

Thomas  D.  Ford,  Peter  McQueen. 


Joseph  E.  Elder, 
Thos.  G.  Reybukn, 
Wjl  Wade, 


St.  Lotas  Chamber  of  Commerce. 
J.  B.  S.  Lemoine, 
Chas.  Rogers, 
Peter  McQueen. 


St.  Louis  Press. 
JA>n=:s  F.  Geary,  Leader,  Chas.  G.  Gonter,  Price  Current, 

Geo.  L.  Pollard,      "  H.  K.  Davis,  Democrat. 

J.  E.  VValschied,      "  P.  P.  Ferguson,  Herald. 

Lebrun's  St.  Luuis  National  Gvard  Band — 15  members. 


38  EXCDRSION    OF    WESTERN!    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Citizens. 
Capt.  JoHx  N.  Pkitchard,  of  St.  Louis  National  Guard, 

Charles  D.  Drake,  M.  S.  Mepham, 

H.  W.  Williams,  Edward  Chase, 

Pat'k  E.  Bork,  L.  R.  Wilson, 

Dr.  J.  T.  Temple,  Wm.  H.  Barksdale, 

James  McDosodgh,  Wji.  D.  Wood, 

Oliver  Green,  Wm.  A.  McLtjre, 

Dr.  W.  H.  Iansen,  R.  J.  Dowling, 

A  Gallagher,  James  Hinchchfk, 

G.  W.  Tenille,  John  Y.  Page, 

Dr.  C.  W.  Spalding,  Rev.  Dr.  Anderson, 

M,  W^.  Wakne,  Professor  Wm.  L.  Baird. 

The  St.  Louis  excursionists  were  accompanied  by  Le  Bi-un's  brass 
band,  attached  to  Captain  Pritchard's  noted  company  of  St.  Louis  Na- 
tional Guards.  The  trip  to  Cincinnati  was  much  enjoyed,  the 
unusually  large  size  of  the  new  passenger-cars  upon  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  Road,  broad  gauge  track,  affording  peculiar  comfort  to 
the  travellers.  At  Cincinnati  they  became  the  guests  of  the  authori- 
ties of  that  city,  and  were  hospitably  entertained.  By  invitation  of 
Mr.  Coleman,  the  proprietor  of  the  Burnet  House,  the  authorities  of 
both  cities  dined  together  at  that  famous  Western  Hotel.  A  very 
agreeable  time  was  had  at  the  Burnet,  and  all  who  participated  will 
doubtless  long  remember  the  pleasurable  event. 

After  viewing  the  sights  at  Cincinnati  during  the  afternoon  of  the 
16th,  at  an  early  hour  in  the  evening  the  St.  Louisians  were  escorted 
to  the  passenger  station  of  the  Little  ISIiami  Railroad,  on  Front  street, 
where,  with  Baltimore's  guests  from  Cincinnati — who  had  also  gath- 
ered for  the  start — they  embarked  for  Columbus. 

The  annexed  is  believed  to  be  a  nearly  comi^lete  list  of  the  guests 
from  Cincinnati : 

City  Council. 

Chas.  Rule,  H.  Baetherst, 

Danl.  Colly,  A.  Stubb, 

R.  M.  Bishop,  Jas.  Keesan, 

H.  KiERSTKAD,  D.  Harrison, 

S.  B.  Hirst,  Thos.  H.  Weasner, 

W.  H.  Glass,  Wm.  Perry, 

J.  H.  F.  Groeve,  John  S.  Ross, 

B.  Egoleston,  Thos.  Marsh, 


NAMES    OF    THE    EXCURSIONISTS    FROM    CINCINNATI. 


39 


J.  J,  TORRENCE, 

J.  Wads  WORTH, 

J.  F.  HOLLISTER, 


G.  W.  SlI.\AT9, 

Thos.  Gaines, 
\Vm.  Hamilton. 


Citi/  Officers. 

S.  M.  Hurt,  J.  M.  Blundell, 

J.  J.  Far  an,  (ex-Mayor,)  J.  H.  Nieter, 

S.  B.  HuLSE,  J,  Brown, 

S.  Sawyer,  Wm.  Ward, 

J.  M.  Bell,  Isaac  Voorhees, 

P.  Hennessly,  J.  Kiersted, 
Frank  Meeker. 


Judge  Jacob  Flinn, 
John  R.  Morton, 
Wm.  H.  Kerr, 
Adam  Geiss, 
A.  W.  Churchill, 
L.  J.  Schell, 
W.  B.  Lacey, 
Geo.  Mathers, 
Frank  Lyons, 
j.  a.  o'conner, 
Dr.  H.  ScHULTZ, 
Judge  Jas.  Saffin, 
Chas.  Thomas, 
Jno.  Kinney, 
W.  C.  Pratt, 
P.  J.  Moore, 
P.  McCabe, 
J.  B.  Holmes, 
Jno.  B.  Bell, 
Jno.  E.  Bell, 
Jas,  N.  I.indsat, 
R  B.  McCracken, 
J.  R  Hallam, 
M.  J.  King, 
Seth  Evans, 
Alex.  Swift, 


Citizens. 

M.  A.  Slough, 
Wm.  Bromwell, 
Wm.  Jucher, 
N.  P.  Poor, 
J.  Harpel, 
Jno.  G.  Jones, 
M.  B.  Coombs, 

F.  D.  Bell, 

G.  H.  Huster, 
S.  C.  Gerard, 
Wm.  H.  Gould, 
John  Beattie, 
Chas.  B.  Schafer, 
g.  f.  koehler, 
Col.  Frank  Linck, 
Henry  Grotlense, 
R.  C.  Hazlewood, 
Isaiah  Rogers, 
Jas.  McCoy, 

M.  Cleary, 
OLI^^:R  Brown, 
W.  M.  Burgoyne, 
J.  S.  Desilver, 
E.  Ross, 

E.  A.  Ferguson, 
John  Ridgeway, 
Rev.  Saml.  J.  Brown. 


W. 


Hepresentatives  of  the  Press. 
C.  Crippen,  of  Cincinnati  Times,     Wm.  P.  Gee,  Vincennes  Gazette, 


40  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

H.  H.  Robinson,  Cincinnati  Enquirer,    Jos.  A.  Fitch,  Dayton  Enquirer, 

Wash.  Armstrong,    "  "  A.  Burnett, 

Richard  Smith,         "  Gazette,     F.  Linburg,  Volksfreiand. 

From  Newport,  Kij. 
R.  B.  McCkacken,  J.  R.  Hallan, 

M.  J.  King, 
All  members  of  the  City  Council, 

Mentor's  splendid  brass  band  accompanied  the  Cincinnatians,  and 
proved  themselves  to  be  a  most  excellent  addition  to  the  excursion. 

Leaving  Cincinnati,  the  excursionists  progi'essed  over  the  Little 
Miami  Railroad,  with  all  the  comfort  usual  to  passengers  in  these 
days,  when  railroad  travelling  has — and  especially  on  this  excellent 
line — reached  toward  the  perfection  of  locomotion,  and  with  the  add- 
ed enjoyment  that  was  natural  to  a  party  so  full  of  pleasurable  an- 
ticipations. Before  reaching  Columbus  a  delay,  provoking  in  itself, 
but  aflfording  occasion  for  a  roadside  episode,  occurred.  About  mid- 
night some  portion  of  the  machinery  about  the  locomotive  gave  out, 
and  an  enforced  halt  followed,  in  the  midst  of  thick  woods,  until  a  new 
engine  could  be  procured.  The  fact  that  the  detention  might  last  sev- 
eral hours,  was  no  sooner  ascertained,  than  a  space  in  the  woods  was 
cleared,  a  ball-room  extemporized,  the  music  of  the  bands  put  in  requi- 
sition, and  the  pleasures  of  the  dance  enjoyed  with  all  the  zest  that 
the  addenda  of  such  unusual  surroundings  could  impart  to  it.  The 
detention  was  thus  beguiled  of  its  tediousness,  and.  with  the  sun  of 
the  bright  summer  morn,  a  fresh  locomotive  replaced  the  disabled  ma- 
chinery, and,  all  in  their  places  in  the  train,  they  were  quickly  on  the 
way  toward  Columbus,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  the  East- 
ern terminus  of  the  Little  Miami  Railroad.  At  this  point  the  excur- 
sionists were  joined  by  the  following  named  gentlemen  of  that  city, 
Gov.  Chase  and  his  suite  having  preceded  the  train,  for  a  more  lei- 
surely trip  to  Baltimore : 

W.  T.  Bascomk,  0.  S.  Journal,  W.  Dennison,  Jr.,  Pres.  C.  &.  X.  R.  R. 

J.  Greiner,  Columbus  Gazette,  R.  Nevins,  0.  Statesman. 

At  Columbus  the  excursionists  were  transferred  to  the  Central 
Ohio  Railroad,  extending  137  miles  eastward,  through  the  most  fertile 
part  of  Ohio,  intersecting  the  cities  of  Columbus,  Newark,  Zanesville, 
and  Cambridge,  in  its  course,  and  connecting  at  Bellaire,  Ohio,  oppo- 
site Benwood,  in  Virginia,  with  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.    The 


THE    TRIP    OYER    THE    CENTRAL    OHIO    RAILROAD.  41 

train  was  in  charge  of  Conductor  Marrow,  one  of  the  oldest  upon 
the  road.  Leaving  Cokimbus,  the  line  passes  through  the  level  table- 
land of  this  part  of  Ohio,  exhibiting  on  every  side  a  fertility  of  soil 
and  a  plenitude  of  agricultural  wealth  that  charms  the  eye,  and  in  an 
almost  straight  line  reaches  Newark,  33  miles  distant.  Newark  is 
pleasantly  located,  in  a  populous  agricultural  region,  and  is  a  place  of 
some  manufocturing  importance.  The  Sandusky,  Mansfield  and  Newark 
Railroad,  running  from  Sandusky  City,  on  Lake  Erie,  here  intersects 
the  Central  Ohio  Railroad,  and  gives  it  a  connection  with  Noith-west 
Ohio  and  beyond.  The  Steubenville  and  Indiana  Railroad  also  termi- 
nates here,  and  connects  at  Steubenville  with  the  Ohio  River  road  to 
Pittsburg.  From  Newark,  twenty-six  miles'  progress  brought  the 
train  to  Zanesville,  the  county  seat  of  Muskingum,  one  of  the  richest 
coimties  in  Ohio,  embracing  in  its  area  the  valleys  of  the  Muskingum 
and  Licking  rivers,  which  have  their  confluence  at  that  point,  and 
abound  with  mineral  and  agricultural  advantages.  The  city  has  a  pop- 
ulation of  about  18,000,  and  is  a  neat,  well  built,  and  prosperous  place. 
At  Zanesville  the  following  citizens  of  that  place  were  added  to  the 
Eastern  bound  guests ! 

Rev.  S.  J.  Cox,  A.  R.  Cassidy, 

W.  H.  Ball,  John  Haynes, 

Dr.  A.  Ball,  Johx  Q.  Lane, 

S.  H.  Kauffjian,  Zanesville  Courier,   Jas.  P.  Bartox. 

An  hour's  ride  from  Zanesville.  through  the  fertile  Leatherhead 
Valley,  brought  the  train  to  the  ancient  town  of  Cambridge,  situated 
at  the  crossing  of  the  old  National  Turnpike  Road  over  Wills'  Creek. 
For  many  miles  on  each  side  of  Cambridge,  the  Central  Railroad  runs 
close  to  and  parallel  with  the  National  Road;  and  the  view  of  this 
early  national  eflbrt  to  open  a  communication  between  the  seaboard 
and  the  West,  naturally  suggested  comiiarisons  between  the  railroad 
and  the  wagon,  as  types  of  the  past  and  present  progress  of  the  countrj-. 
From  Cambridge  the  Central  Ohio  Road  continues  its  course  for  fifty 
miles  through  a  rich,  rolling  country,  the  agricultural  features  of  which, 
its  richness  of  soil,  abundance  of  heavy  timber,  and  large  herds  of  stock, 
will  always  arrest  and  gratify  the  eye  of  the  traveller. 

The  interest  and  pleasure  of  the  excursionists  gave  an  impetus  to 
time,  that  appeared  to  compete  in  rapidity  with  the  flight  of  the  loco- 
motive, and  by  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  fertile  state  of  Ohio  had  been 


42  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

crossed,  and  the  train  drew  np  at  the  expanding  town  of  Bellaire,  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Ohio — the  guests  congratulating  themselves 
that,  notwithstanding  the  delay  beyond  Columbus,  they  were  still  in 
time  to  pass  a  part  of  the  grand  mountain  path  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad  in  daylight. 

At  this  point  the  excursionists  were  met  by  Chauncy  Brooks, 
President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  accompanied 
by  Wendel  Bollman,  Road-master.  Col.  J.  B.  Ford,  agent  at  "Wheeling, 
and  other  oflBcers  of  the  company.  After  they  had  left  the  cars,  they 
were  welcomed  by  Mr.  Brooks,  in  remarks  to  the  following  effect : 

Gentlemen  of  the  West — Representatives  of  the  CrriEs  of  St. 
Louis  and  Cincinnati  : — As  President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
Company,  it  is  my  pleasant  duty  to  welcome  you  at  this  point  of  your  pro- 
gress toward  the  east.  It  will  be  our  agreeable  office  to  take  you  in  charge, 
and  endeavor  to  promote  your  enjoyment,  until  we  resign  the  task  to  the 
authorities  and  citizens  of  Baltimore.  They,  I  know,  are  prepared  to  welcome 
you  warmly,  entertain  you  hospitably,  and  surround  you  with  all  the  attractions 
and  courtesies  which  may  be  in  their  power. 

Leaving  the  cars  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Ohio,  the  excursionists 
were  transferred  to  the  Railroad  ferry-steamboat,  gayly  ornamented 
with  flags,  in  honor  of  the  occasion,  and  quickly  landed  on  the  Virginia 
side.  Here  two  trains  of  cars  were  in  waiting  for  their  accommodation, 
in  the  charge  of  the  following  officers  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Com- 
pany :  Joseph  Brown.  General  Supervisor  of  Trains  ;  Geo.  A.  Rawlings 
and  E.  T.  Petticord,  conductors.  The  time  already  lost  rendered  despatch 
advisable,  and  in  a  very  brief  period  all  were  in  the  cars,  and  the  train 
started  eastward.  The  bright  rays  of  a  summer  afternoon's  sun  gave 
light  and  glory  to  the  scene,  as  the  trains  swiftly  passed  Moundsville — 
with  its  classic  mound — Cameron,  Welling  Tunnel,  and  other  places  of 
interest,  and  approached  the  western  slope  of  the  Alleghanies.  The 
excursionists  enjoyed  with  extreme  gratification  the  constant  calls  for 
examination  and  admiration  which  the  grand  characteristics  of  the 
scenery  by  which  they  were  surrounded,  made  upon  them.  The  Great 
Board  Tree  Tunnel,  40  miles  from  Wheeling,  where  numerous  work- 
men were  engaged  in  putting  in  the  permanent  stone  arching,  attract- 
ed much  attention  from  the  fact  of  its  being  the  scene  of  Mr.  Engineer 
Latrobe's  original  triumph  in  crossing  great  elevations  with  locomotive 
and  cars,  by  means  of  a  series  of  steep  inclines,  called  Y's.  The  guests 
generally,  however,  were  hardly  aware  that  at  this  spot  they  were  but 


WHEELLJNG, 

The  Original  Termini  s  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad. 

The  Hallway  i^tatioii  appears  on  the  Bank  of  the  Ohio,  and  ihe 
Wire  Suspension  Briil-je  in  Ihe  middle  ground. 


GREAT  INDIAN  MOUND, 

Moum)Svili,e,  on  the  Baltimore  &:  Ohio  R.  R.  and 
Ohio  River.  12  Miles  below  Wheeling. 


THE    TRIP    FROM    BENWOOD   TO   GRAFTON.  43 

two  thousand  feet  from  from  the  south-west  angle  of  the  great  State 
of  Pennsjivania.  The  approach  to  the  iNIonongahela  River,  above  the 
beautiful  towns  of  Fairmont  and  Palatine,  with  the  picturesque  wire 
suspension  bridge  uniting  them,  excited  the  general  surprise  of  the 
excursionists.  The  great  020  foot  iron  bridge,  too,  by  which  the  rail- 
road crosses  the  Monongahela,  a  mile  east  of  Fairmont,  was  pointed 
out  as  a  remarkably  strong  and  beautiful  structure.  The  views  along 
the  Tygart's  Valley  Rivei-,  between  the  Monongahela  and  Grafton,  for 
twenty  miles,  with  the  "  Valley  River  Falls,"  were  among  the  objects 
most  admired,  so  ftir,  upon  the  route. 

The  excursionists  might — perhaps  some  of  them  did  —exclaim  : 

Singintr  throngli  the  forests, 

Rattling  over  ridges, 
Shooting  under  arches, 

Rumbling  over  bridges, 
Whizzing  through  the  mountains. 

Buzzing  o"cr  the  vale, 
Bless  me  !  this  is  ijleasant, 

Riding  on  the  Rail. 

The  shades  of  evening  were  just  closing  in,  as  the  shrill  whistle  of 
the  iron  horse  announced  that  the  excursion  trains  were  approaching 
Grafton.  The  deep-voiced  artillery  thundered  forth  its  welcome, 
joined  with  the  joyful  shouts  of  the  population.  On  the  platform  were 
assembled  Alexander  IManafee,  the  ^layor  of  Grafton,  and  the  corpo- 
rate authorities.  Dr.  Charles  F.  Staasbury,  of  Washington  City,  Messrs. 
W.  P.  Smith,  D.  P.  Rennie,  and  John  L.  Wilson,  assistant  masters  of 
the  three  departments  of  transportation,  machinery,  and  road  respec- 
tively, Mr.  Thomas,  editor  of  Appletons'  Railway  Guide,  Mr.  I.  D. 
Barton,  reporter  of  the  Baltimore  Clipper,  Mr.  Thos.  D.  Sultzer,  the 
representative  of  the  Baltimore  Patriot,  and  nearly  the  entire  popula- 
tion of  Grafton,  male  and  female. 

The  train  halted  only  about  half  an  hour,  and  after  the  exchange 
of  congratulations,  the  entire  party,  numbering  not  less  than  four 
hundred  person.s,  sat  down  to  a  most  excellent  and  bountiful  entertain- 
ment, prepared  by  IMr.  Horace  Resley,  the  proprietor  of  the  new  and 
beautiful  Railroad  Hotel,  at  the  insttuice  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  Company.  By  the  time  the  hungry  travellers  had  fully 
satisfied  their  appetites,  sharpened  by  their  proti'acted  delay  on  the 
road,  the  whistle  of  the  engine  summoned  *'  all  aboard,"  and  amid  the 
firing  of  cannon,  the  waving  of  flags,  and  the  shouts  of  the  people,  the 


44  EXCURSION    OF   WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

excursionists  took  their  departure  eastward,  accompanied  by  the  gen- 
tlemen who  came  up  on  Thursday  evening  from  Ba,Itimore,  to  meet 
the  trains  at  this  point. 

Though  the  delay  of  the  excursionists,  by  the  detention  beyond 
Columbus,  had  altered  the  arrangements  for  their  transmission  over 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road,  yet  no  further  delay  was  permitted  to 
occur  on  that  account.  Through  the  admirable  sj'stem  of  numerous 
telegraph-stations,  in  use  on  the  road,  the  experienced  iNIaster  of  Trans- 
portation at  Baltimore,  Dr.  W.  S.  Woodside,  and  other  officers  of  the 
Company,  were  kept  informed  throughout  the  day  of  the  exact  move- 
ments of  the  trains,  and  such  arrangements  immediately  made,  as 
enabled  them  to  prepare  for  the  excursionists  a  clear  track. 

The  guests  from  Chillicothe  arrived  at  Grafton  by  the  north-west- 
ern Virginia,  or  Parkersburg  Branch  Railroad  train,  at  half-past  eight 
o'clock  on  Thursday  evening,  the  16th  July.  The}''  left  Chillicothe 
at  nine  in  the  morning,  by  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad, 
and  on  the  arrival  of  the  train  at  Scott's  Landing,  on  the  Ohio  River, 
embarked  on  board  the  favorite  connecting  ferry  steamer  John  Buck, 
for  Parkersburg,  and  thence  to  Grafton,  as  above  stated.  The  gentle- 
men from  Chillicothe  were: 

Edward  Adams,  Mayor  of  the  city. 
City  Council. 
Seneca  "W.  Ely,  President.  A.  Pierson, 

M.  Armour,  M.  Lewis, 

M.  Schilder,  W.  E.  Gilmore, 

Joseph  Sandford,  Wm.  Welsh, 

William  B.  Franklix. 
Henry  M.  Pinto,  Recorder  City  Council. 
G.  S.  Baker,  City  Marshal,  aud 
A.  Blacker,  City  Solicitor. 

These  gentlemen,  in  consequence  of  the  delay  in  the  arrival  of  the 
excursion  trains,  were  sent  on  to  Cumberland,  in  the  AYheeling  and 
Cumberland  accommodation  train,  which  duly  arrived  at  Grafton 
shortly  after  noon,  and  they  thus  had  ample  opportunity  of  witnessing 
some  of  the  most  pictuivsquc  and  interesting  portions  of  the  road, 
— lying  between  Grafton  and  Cumberland — by  daylight. 

On  leaving  Grafton,  several  of  the  guests,  representatives  of  the  West- 
ern press,  with  the  disposition  of  their  profession  to  keep  a  good  look-out, 
took  positions  on  the  engines,  and  from  their  novel  elevation  enjoyed 
with  additional  zest  the  grand  scenery  which  passed  in  review,  as  the 


THE   CHILLICOTHE    GUESTS GRAFTON    TO    CUMBERLAND.  45 

locomotives  pursued  their  devious  but  securely  solid  way  up  the  moun- 
taiu  ;  winding  now  along  its  side,  anon  thundering  through  the  stone 
arched  tunnels,  that  pierced  its  summits,  and  then  crossing  its  ravines, 
over  superstructures  on  which  the  art  of  the  engineer  had  lavished  the 
strength  and  solidity,  almost,  of  the  rock-ribbed  hills  to  which  they 
joined  the  iron  path. 

As  the  trains,  having  successfully  scaled  the  mountain  on  the 
eleven-mile  grade  from  Cheat  River  Valley  at  Rowlesburg,  and  passing 
Cranbury  summit,  drew  up  at  Oakland,  on  the  Glades,  a  pleasantly 
designed  and  tastefully  executed  welcome  greeted  the  guests.  The 
entire  front  of  the  hotel,  a  favorite  summer  resort,  was  brilhantly  illu- 
minated, and  the  portico  decorated  with  a  display  of  flags.  Guns  were 
fired,  cheers  given,  and  the  large  number  of  ladies  at  that  time  tempo- 
rarily sojourning  at  this  pleasant  mountain  home,  appeared  on  the 
platform,  and,  by  their  pleasant  greetings,  bright  smiles,  and  waving 
handkerchiefs,  sent  the  excursionists  on  their  way  with  the  pleasantest 
recollections  of  this  welcome  on  the  mountain.  A  susceptible  young 
gentleman,  as  the  train  left,  was  detected  making  ardent  manifestations 
of  love  to  one  of  the  ladies,  whom  he  has  since  put  in  print  as  being 
"  fairer  than  the  fairest,  arrayed  in  spotless  white,  and  who  will  ever 
linger  on  his  memory,  a  bright  vision  of  loveliness."  Evidently  he 
thought  with  the  poet 

"  Parting  was  such  sweet  sorrow 
He  could  say  farewell,  till  it  be  morrow;" 

but  the  locomotive  had  pangs  of  a  different  kind,  and  bore  him  re- 
morselessly awa)'. 

The  grand  scenery  of  this  entire  region  of  mountains  and  valleys, 
from  Kingwood  Tunnel  to  Cumbei'land — a  distance  of  some  sevent}-- 
five  or  eighty  miles — was  almost  entirely  lost  to  the  travellers  by  reason 
of  the  darkness  of  the  night.  The  Cheat  Kiver  and  Piedmont  Grades 
were  especially  hidden  from  the  view. 

The  gentlemen  from  Cliillicothe,  who  went  down  to  Cumberland 
by  the  regular  train,  were  the  only  ones  of  the  party  who  were  enabled 
to  enjoy  the  hospitalities  of  the  people  of  Cumberland.  The  Balti- 
more Council  Committee,  Messrs.  Kirk,  Ford  and  Hynes,  and  Messrs. 
Vansant,  Brinkley,  and  other  Directors  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  were  in  attendance,  to  show  the  Chillicothe  guests  every 
attention  possible.  The  entire  party  partook  of  a  sumptuous  enter- 
tainment at  the  hospitable  mansion  of  Col.  J.  H.  Tucker,  the  former 
Mayor  of  the  city,  during  the  evening.     The  lateness  of  the  hour  at 


46  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN  AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

which  the  excursion  trains  arrived,  prevented  the  great  bulk  of  the 
guests  from  enjoying  a  fine  supper  prepared  at  the  Revere  House,  at 
the  instance  of  the  Raih-oad  Company.  As  the  trains  came  rushing  in 
at  1  A.  M.,  they  were  saluted  with  salvos  of  artillery  and  the  cheers 
of  the  assembled  citizens.  Even  at  that  late  hour  flags  were  seen  dis- 
played in  many  quarters.  After  a  brief  stay,  the  trains  were  again  put 
in  motion. 

At  this  point  the  guests  were  each  furnished  with  the  following 
circular : — 

PROCEEDINGS  ON  THE  ROAD,  AND  ORDER  OF  RECEPTION  AT 
BALTIMORE. 

The  excursionists  after  dining  at  Grafton,  on  Friday  the  17th  instant,  -will 
proceed  thence  to  Cumberland,  where  they  will  sup.  At  Cumberland  they  will 
be  received  by  a  Comnjittee  of  Escort  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  City  Council 
of  Baltimore  and  the  Directors  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 

Each  visitor  will  be  furnished  with  a  Badge,  which  he  will  attach  to  the 
lapel  of  his  coat,  and  wear  during  his  sojourn  in  our  city  as  a  distinguishing 
mark.  Each  State  and  City  delegation,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  arrangements 
entered  into  for  their  reception,  will  please  selc«t  one  of  their  number  for  a  Mar- 
shal, who,  it  is  courteously  requested,  will  furnish  the  Committee  of  Escort  with 
a  complete  list  of  the  names  of  the  members  of  his  delegation.  This  measure  is 
essential  to  the  avoidance  of  confusion  and  delay  upon  the  arrival  of  the  trains 
at  Baltimore. 

Special  guests  will  also  oblige  by  reporting  their  names  to  the  Committee 
before  leaving  Cumberland. 

Before  leaving  Cumberland  it  is  desirable  and  important  that  all  baggage, 
of  every  description,  remaining  unchecked,  shall  be  put  in  charge  of  the  Bag- 
gage llaster,  who  will  give  the  owner  Baltimore  checks. 

After  leaving  Cumberland,  the  Committee  on  the  part  of  the  City  Council 
will  go  through  the  train,  assigning  each  guest  his  quarters  at  Baltimore,  and 
furnish  tickets  indicating  the  hotel  in  which  they  are  to  be  respectively  placed. 
Following  the  Committee  of  the  City  Council,  a  Baggage  Master  will  collect 
from  each  guest  bis  check  or  cheeks,  and  deliver  the  baggage  at  the  hotel  to 
which  the  owner  is  assigned.     This  will  ensure  comfort  aud  order  in  advance. 

The  trains  will  arrive  at  the  Wa.shingtou  Junction  on  Satuiday,  the  18th 
instant,  at  8  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  time  given  to  breakfast  at  the  Relay  House,  and 
there  make  preparations  for  entering  the  citj,  leaving  the  Washington  Junc- 
tion at  9.45  and  arriving  in  Baltimore  at  10.15.  On  the  arrival  of  the  excur- 
sion train  at  Baltimore,  the  visiting  guests  will  retain  their  seats  in  the  cars  a 
few  moments,  preserving  their  State  and  City  organizations,  when  they  will  be 
escorted  in  carriages  by  the  military  and  firemen  to  the  great  Hall  of  the  Mary- 
land Institute,  where  they  will  bo  formally  received  by  the  Mayor  and  city 
authorities. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  reception  ceremonies,  the  guests  will  return  to 
their  carriages  and  be  conveyed  to  their  respective  hotels.  In  the  evening  a 
grand  display  of  Fireworks  will  be  given  in  honor  of  the  guests,  at  Monument 


ORDER  OF  PROCEEDINGS CUMBERLAND  TO  W.  JUNCTION.  47 

Square  by  the  city.  On  Monday  afternoon  the  Grand  Banquet  by  the  citizens 
oi  Baltimore  will  take  place  at  the  Hall  of  the  Maryland  Institute. 

J.  H.  hynp:s, 

SAM'L  KIRK, 
JNO.  T.  FORD, 
Cammiltee  of  Escort  on  the  part  of  the  City  Council  of  Baltimore. 

JOSHUA  VAXSANT, 
JOHN  W.  GARRETT, 
ROBERT  TURNER, 
Committee  of  Escort  on  the  part  of  the  Baltimore  Sf  Ohio  R.R.  Co. 

^^°  The  attention  of  the  guests  is  respectfully  called  to  the  foregoing  requests  of 
the  Committees. 

As  the  trains  left  Martinsburg  and  entered  upon  the  last  hundred 
miles  that  separated  them  from  Baltimore, 

The  sun  had  in  the  lap 

Of  Thetis  taken  out  his  nap, 

And  like  a  lobster  boiled,  the  morn 

From  black  to  red  began  to  turn. 

In  more  matter  of  fact  prose  it  was  sunri.se,  and  the  bright  rays  of  the 
luminary  revealed  grace  and  beauty  in  the  landscape,  whilst  it  roused 
the  excursionists  and  bade  them  prepare  for  the  reception  awaiting 
them  at  the  end  of  their  nearly  accomplished  journey.  In  reference  to 
this  part  of  the  excursion,  the  intelligent  reporter  for  the  Baltimore 
Patriot  made  the  following  full  notice,  in  that  journal,  of  one  of  the  new 
passenger  train  locomotives  put  upon  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road. 

The  excursion  train  left  Martinsburg  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  was 
drawn  over  the  first  division  of  the  road  by  a  new  and  splendid  engine  recently 
placed  upon  the  road,  and  bearing  the  high  number  of  "  232."  This  engine  is 
of  the  largest  class  used  for  passenger  trains,  (except  the  heavy  ten-wheelers 
for  the  monntain  grades,)  and  was  built  for  the  Company  by  the  Messrs.  Mason, 
of  Taunton,  Mass.,  several  of  whose  machines  of  a  smaller  class  have  been  run- 
ning for  more  than  a  year  upon  the  Washington  Branch  Road.  Independent  of 
the  striking  appearance  of  this  engine,  from  its  size,  apparent  strength,  and  beau- 
tiful finish,  the  feader  will,  no  doubt,  be  willing  to  learn  some  interesting  facts 
concerning  its  practical  advantages.  It  is  well  known  that  the  most  expensive 
item  in  the  practical  working  of  locomotives  is  fuel.  The  ordinary  consump- 
tion of  wood  by  first-class  passenger  engines  in  this  hundred-mile  run,  between 
Martinsburg  and  Baltimore,  is  about  four  cords.  This  requires,  as  a  rule, 
a  special  stoppage  of  the  passenger  train  of  four  or  five  minutes  above  the 
Monocacy  junction,  in  order  to  "  wood  up."  Upon  this  engine,  however,  the 
nm  is  made  with  the  consumption  of  but  two  and  a  half  cords  of  wood,  which 
being  less  than  the  capacity  of  its  tender,  entirely  dispenses  with  the  stoppage 


48  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO   THE    EAST. 

for  renewed  supply.  Although  this  reduced  quantity  of  fuel  is  consumed,  the 
engine  has  no  lack  of  steam,  but  seems  equal  to  a  more  enlarged  task  even  than 
hauling  the  heavy  train  which  contains  the  great  throng  of  Balthnore  guests. 
Without  enlarging  too  much  upon  these  practical  details,  the  subject  is  of 
such  paramouut  importance  in  railway  economy,  that  I  have  made  a  careful 
calculation,  to  show  the  actual  advantages  presented  in  this  seemingly  model 
locomotive.  In  the  first  place,  the  cost  of  wood  used  between  Martinsburg 
and  Baltimore  is  said  to  average  $3.80  per  cord,  when  prepared  for  the  loco- 
motive. The  quantity  consumed  by  the  ordinary  engines  for  the  round  trip.of 
200  miles  is,  say  eight  cords,  while,  as  I  have  stated,  by  the  engine  in  question 
it  is  but  five  cords,  being  a  saving  of  three  cords,  $11.40.  The  number  of 
round  trips  made  by  the  passenger  engines  during  the  year  is  about  150,  by 
which  it  is  evident  that  the  total  saving  of  wood  reaches,  in  the  course  of  a 
year,  the  large  quantity  of  450  cords,  with  the  attendant  reduction  of  $1,710. 
Assuming  that  there  are  twenty  engines  of  this  general  character  in  use  upon 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  the  saving  to  that  Company  would  reach  the 
enormous  figiu-c  of  $34,200  in  this  one  particular  of  its  working  expenses. 
With  regard  to  the  consumption  of  oil,  the  same  economy  is  effected  in  the  use 
of  this  engine,  there  being  but  little  more  than  half  the  usual  quantity  required 
for  its  supply.  The  saving  in  this  item  of  running  expenses  is  roundly  esti- 
mated at  the  minimum  of  one  gallon,  costing  $1.30  for  the  round  trip  of  200 
miles,  amounting  to  the  sum  of  $195  for  a  year's  operation  for  each  engine.  I 
learn  that  this  estimate  is  fully  verified  by  the  Company's  experience  with  the 
same  make  of  engines  on  the  Washington  Branch.  Besides  the  foregoing  in- 
valuable features,  the  engineers  inform  me,  that  owing  to  the  substantial  and 
careful  manner  in  which  the  several  parts  of  these  machines  are  made  and 
adapted  to  each  other,  the  cost  of  keeping  in  repair  is  also  very  materially 
reduced.  Having  no  opportunity  upon  my  trip  to  obtain  reliable  data  upou 
this  point,  I  am  not  enabled  to  say  what  the  advantage  therein  realizes  to  the 
Railroad  Company  in  dollars  and  cents.  I  can  only  add,  in  this  connection,  the 
general  remark,  that  No.  "  232 ''  is  evidently  a  tip-top  No.  1  pas-senger  locomo- 
tive, and  will,  no  doubt,  prove  its  efficiency  in  adding  to  the  already  good  repu- 
tation of  the  road  for  prompt,  safe,  and  regular  running. 

At  Monocacy  station — the  Frederick  Junction — the  excursionists 
were  received  with  another  of  the  pleasant  manifestations  of  welcome 
that  had  enlivened  their  progress  at  all  the  principal  points  on  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road.  A  large  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 
had  come  out  from  Frederick  City — three  miles  distant  by  the  branch 
road — in  a  special  train,  and  were  prepared  to  greet  the  guests  right 
heartily.  Flags  and  banners  decorated  the  platform,  and  the  firing  of 
guns  and  hearty  huzzas  mingled  in  a  cheerful  chorus  as  the  trains 


MODEL    ENGINES ARRIVAL    AT    WASniXGTON    JUNCTION.  49 

drew  up,  whilst  the  bright  faces  and  waving  handkerchiefs  of  the  ladies 
gave  the  zest  of  female  sympathies  to  the  scene.  The  momentary  stop- 
page of  the  trains  afforded  an  opportunity  to  repay  these  courtesies  with 
some  fine  music,  and  with  three  hearty  cheers  for  the  ladies  of  Fred- 
erick, the  Junction  was  left  behind  in  the  onward  progress  towards 
Baltimore.  At  this  point  Col.  Edward  Shriver,  Director  on  the  part 
of  the  State,  in  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  others,  joined 
the  company. 

Speeding  onward,  the  trains  passed  over  Mount  Airy,  through 
Sykesville,  Elysville,  Ellicott's  ^lills,  and  other  rural  towns  on  the  line 
of  the  road,  at  all  of  which  there  were  some  demonstrations  of  welcome. 
At  Ellicott's  Mills  is  located  the  extensive  and  celebrated  fashionable 
Ladies'  School  of  Mr.  Archer,  especially  well  known  thi'oughout  the 
Southern  States,  as  "  The  Patapsco  Institute."  The  cheers  of  the  people 
mingling  with  the  "  clash  and  clang  "  of  the  trains  as  they  swept  by, 
reminded  the  excursionists  continually  that  while  they  were  the  guests 
of  Baltimore  specially,  yet  that  the  whole  of  ^Maryland  was  united  in 
welcoming  them  to  her  soil. 

At  the  Relay  House,  Washington  Junction — nine  miles  from  Balti- 
more— in  accordance  with  the  programme  of  arrangements,  the  guests 
were  to  halt  for  breakfast,  and  for  the  completion  of  the  preparations 
necessary  for  their  proper  entry  into  the  city.  The  Citizens'  Com- 
mittee of  Reception  and  the  Committee  on  the  part  of  the  Board  of 
Trade,  had  proceeded  from  Baltimore  to  the  Relay  House  at  an  early 
hour,  and  were  in  waiting  there  to  perform  their  appropriate  functions. 
These  Committees  consisted  of  the  following  gentlemen  : 

On  the  Part  of  the  Citizens. — Messrs.  S.  Owings  Hoffman,  TTm. 
Pinknev  Whyte,  J.  Morrison  Harris,  C.  C.  Jamieson,  Robt.  A.  Dobbin, 
Beale  H.  Richardson,  A.  S.  Abell,  B.  G.  Hoffman,  Wm.  T.  Young, 
George  P.  Kane. 

On  the  Part  of  the  Board  of  Trade.— Mef^srs.  Wm.  McKim,  Robert 
Leslie,  C.  D.  Hinks,  Geo.  H.  Kyle,  Alexander  Riemon,  and  George  TJ. 
Porter. 

Shortly  after  eight  o'clock  the  whistle  of  the  locomotive  was  heard, 
and  the  two  excursion  trains,  composed  of  fourteen  cans,  came  in  sight. 
The  excur.sioni.sts.  tired  with  the  travel  of  two  successive  nights,  gladly 
learned  that  a  brief  halt  for  ablution  and  refreshments  had  been  pro- 
vided. Arrangements  had  been  made  to  provide  them  with  breakfast, 
and  so  far  as  the  time  allowed,  and  the  accommodations  at  command 
would  permit,  this  wa.'s  accomplished,  The  ladies  of  the  excursion 
3 


50  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

party  were  first  provided  for,  and  the  tables  were  successively  spread 
until  all  were  provided.  The  guests  were  satisfied  with  the  efforts 
made  for  their  comfort,  and  mingling  with  the  citizens  of  Baltimore, 
gathered  there  to  meet  them,  exchanged  the  greetings  of  welcome.  In 
addition  to  the  gentlemen  present,  officially  charged  with  the  reception 
of  the  guests,  a  number  of  Baltimoreans  who  had  participated  in  the 
Western  excursion,  seized  the  opportunity  to  offer  their  earliest 
greeting  to  the  visitors,  and  as  they  successively  found  among  them 
those  who,  in  Chillicothe,  Cincinnati,  and  St.  Louis,  had  met  and  en- 
tertained them  with  a  hospitality  so  cordial  and  warm  as  to  leave  an 
enduring  impression,  salutations  and  handshakings  were  .interchanged, 
the  blithe  greeting  was  everywhere  heard,  and  jocund  laughter  added 
its  notes  to  the  general  acclaim  of  welcome. 

Before  leaving  the  Relay  House  the  guests  were  called  together, 
and  Col.  S.  Owings  Hoffman,  chairman  of  the  Citizens'  Committee, 
addressed  them  briefly  to  the  following  import : — 

Wearied,  dusty  and  uncomfortable  as  you  are,  after  your  journey,  it  would 
be  unkind  in  us  to  detain  you  with  any  ceremony.  Our  pui-pose  now  is  on 
behalf  of  the  citizens  generally  to  tender  you  a  cordial  welcome.  The  lavish 
kindness  you  of  late  extended  to  a  portion  of  our  citizens,  not  only  created  in 
the  participants  the  kindliest  feelings,  but  has  animated  our  whole  community 
with  like  regard.  And  we  thank  you  for  the  opportunitj'-  you  thvis  afford  them 
of  reciprocating  your  generous  hospitalities.  You  wiU  now  be  conducted  to 
the  depot  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  in  the  city — there  carriages  will 
be  in  readiness  to  carry  you  through  several  of  the  leading  thoroughfares  to 
the  Hall  of  the  Maryland  Institute,  where  you  will  be  welcomed  by  Mayor 
Swann — I\Ionday  you  will  be  entertained  with  a  drill  at  the  Fort  by  the  Artil- 
lery— at  six  o'clock  on  the  same  day  you  will  be  expected  to  partake  of  a 
Banquet,  and  on  Tuesday  enjoy  an  excursion  down  the  Bay.  Eeuewing  our 
a-ssurance  of  a  cordial  welcome  once  more,  we  proceed  to  the  cars. 

Whilst  at  the  Relay  House,  the  guests  from  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati, 
and  Chillicothe,  selected  their  marshals,  speakers,  &c.  Those  from 
Cincinnati  selected  Judge  Pruden,  of  the  Police  Court,  to  speak  in 
the  absence  of  Mayor  Thomas;  Benj.  Eggleston,  to  speak  on  the 
part  of  the  City  Council,  and  H.  Kiersted,  as  Marshal.  Those  of 
Chillicothe  selected  Mayor  Adams  to  speak,  and  Capt.  Gilmour,  as 
Marshal.  George  R.  Taylor,  President  of  the  City  Council  of  St. 
Louis,  was  selected  as  the  representative  of  that  city. 


THE 

KAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF   1857. 


CHAPTER     VII. 

THE  ARRIVAL  AT  BALTIMORE— GRAND  PROCESSION— THE  DECORA- 
TIONS—FORMAL RECEPTION  AT  THE  MARYLAND  INSTITUTE— FIRE- 
WORKS, &.C.,  &c. 

Whilst  the  excursionists  thus  approached  Baltimore,  its  citizens 
were  on  the  alert  to  receive  them  with  the  strongest  demonstrations 
of  welcome.  The  aspect  of  expectation,  the  busy  bustle  of  prepara- 
tion, and  the  movements  of  the  masses  of  expectant  sight-seers,  were 
visible  throughout  the  city,  indicative  of  the  general  enthusiasm  that 
prevailed.  In  every  direction  the  National  flag  was  spread  to  the 
bieeze,  decorations  were  in  progress  of  construction,  mottoes,  bearing 
words  of  welcome  and  fraternization,  were  being  extended  across  the 
streets,  and  the  imposing  triumphal  arch  of  the  Pioneer  Hook  and 
Ladder  Company,  after  a  night  of  labor,  pursued  unremittingly  by  the 
public  spirited  members  of  that  organization,  at  last  stood  complete  in 
its  ample  and  beautiful  construction  and  decoration.  Along  all  the 
streets  through  which  the  procession  was  to  pass,  the  work  of  prepa- 
ration was  actively  progressing  ;  flags  and  bunting,  gay  drapery  and 
fluttering  streamers,  were  being  displayed  in  every  variety,  impressing 
on  the  scene  a  gala-day  appearance,  which  was  the  more  striking  in 
contnvst  with  the  usual  business  absorption  of  these  avenues  of  trade. 
The  morning  sun  shone  with  unclouded  splendor,  as  if  that  luminary 
liad  taken  an  interest  in  the  display,  and  was  anxious  to  add  his  quota 
to  the  warmth  of  the  reception.  Soon,  too,  the  general  movement  of 
the  population  added  its  impressive  significance  to  the  scene.  The  as- 
sembling of  the  military  and  other  bodies  designing  to  participate  in 


52  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

the  pageant,  the  movements  of  the  police  in  their  neat  equipments,  and 
the  swelling  music  of  the  bands  as  they  marched  into  position,  height- 
ened expectation  and  gave  zest  to  the  enthusiasm  that  had  been  in- 
fused mto  all  classes,  who  now  began  to  throng  the  windows,  house- 
tops and  side-walks  along  the  entire  route  of  the  procession.  Thus 
the  city  waited,  in  eager  anticipation  for  her  guests,  prepared  to  hail 
their  first  appearance  with  a  prolonged  shout  of  welcome,  which  should 
express,  in  all  its  fulness,  the  hospitable  intent  she  entertained. 

In  the  cities  of  Old  Europe,  where  pageants  are  the  toys  with 
which  rulers  amuse  the  people,  and  turn  their  thoughts  from  the  more 
serious  affairs  of  state,  the  paraphermdia  of  decoration  and  rejoicing 
are  kept  ready  made,  and  displayed  on  the  scores  of  lighter  occasions, 
which  have  no  deeper  .'significance  than  the  pleasure  of  the  masses 
over  a  gala  day.  Not  so  with  the  American  people.  We  are  unde- 
monstrative, and  need  to  be  strongly  moved  ere  we  give  to  our  rejoicings 
the  popular  and  tangible  demonstrations,  that  clothe  the  city  in  holi- 
day attire,  and  concentrate  the  will  of  all  to  the  single  purpose  of  do- 
ing honor  to  anj^  event  or  occasion.  Keeping  in  view  these  character- 
istics of  our  people,  the  outward  display  which  had  been  made  by  the 
people  of  Baltimore  in  honor  of  their  visitors,  was  impressive,  not  only 
in  the  extent  to  which  it  had  been  pursued,  but  more  especially  as  a 
significant  expression  of  the  warm,  cordial,  and  generally  felt  enthusi- 
asm which  dictated  it. 

The  business  establishments,  newspaper  offices.  &c..  on  Baltimore 
street,  showed  much  taste  and  considerable  liberality  in  the  decorations. 
From  Eutaw  street,  to  the  Maryland  Institute,  a  distance  of  one  mile, 
the  fronts  of  a  great  number  of  the  houses  were  ornamented  by  red, 
white,  and  blue  festoons,  displaying  words  of  welcome  to  the  guests, 
and  in  some  places  immense  scrolls  were  stretched  across  the  street 
bearing  mottoes  expressive  of  good  fellowship.  At  Howard  and  Balti- 
more streets,  from  the  store  of  Devries,  Stephens  &  Thomas,  on  the 
northeast  corner,  to  that  of  Orendorf  &  Ensey  on  the  southeast  corner, 
a  red,  white  and  blue  flag  was  stretched,  bearing  the  inscription : 
"Welcome  Western  Friends  to  Baltimore."  From  the  store  of 
Messrs.  Dallam,  Miller  &  Shipe,  two  doors  below  Me-srs.  Devries  & 
Co..  another  red,  white  and  blue  flag  was  stretched  to  the  clothing 
house  of  Straus,  Hai  tman,  Iloillin  &  Co.,  with  the  inscription  :  "  AVel- 
come  to  our  City."  The  entire  front  of  the  building  on  the  northeast 
corner,  and  occupied  by  Devries.  Stephens  &  Thomas,  Bennett's  Notion 
House,  and  Dallam,  Miller  &  Shi{)e,  was  decorated  betvyeen  the  rows  of 


THE    DECORATIONS    AT    BALTIMORE.  53 

windows  with  heavy  white,  red  and  blue  festoons.  The  establishment 
of  Fisher,  Boyd  &  Co.  was  ornamented  between  the  first  and  second 
stories  with  red,  white  and  blue  festoons,  the  motto,  "  Welcome  West," 
being  formed  by  placing  the  letters  at  the  points  of  the  lestoons.  The 
front  also  displayed  a  large  number  of  small  flags. 

From  the  corner  of  iNIcOlellan's  alley,  opposite  the  extensive  Do- 
mestic House  of  Duvall,  Keighler  &  Co.,  several  large  national  flags 
were  suspended  across  the  street,  one  having  on  it  the  name  First 
Baltimore.  The  carpet  establishment  of  Messrs.  M'Dowell,  Gable  & 
Co.  was  decorated  from  top  to  bottom  in  a  manner  somewhat  difficult 
to  get  an  idea  of  from  a  description.  Along  the  front,  between  the  first 
and  the  windows  of  the  second  story,  were  heavy  red,  white  and  blue 
festoons,  and  between  the  second  and  third  were  also  heavy  festoons 
and  drapery  in  volume,  increasing  towards  the  centre,  and  there  held 
by  a  large  gilt  bracket.  The  great  Trunk  and  Carpet  Bag  emporium 
of  the  enterprising  Van  Nortwick,  on  Sharp  adjoining  Baltimore  street, 
also  attracted  particular  notice. 

The  Paper-hangings  establishment  of  Messrs.  Howell  &  Bro.  was 
freel}"^  ornamented  with  red,  white  and  blue  festoons,  and  with  flags. 
Messrs.  Titfany,  Long  &  Byrn  placed  over  their  door  a  shield  bearing 
the  M^ord  "  Welcome,"  and  heavily  draped  with  red,  white  and  blue 
stufls.  The  front  of  Marston's  china  establishment  displayed  a  large 
gilt  eagle,  and  directly  over  that  a  large  bust  of  Henry  Clay,  the  two 
being  heavily  draped  with  masses  of  red,  white  and  blue  material. 
The  national  flag  was  displayed  from  the  staff  on  top  of  the  building. 
Messrs.  John  N.  Brufi"  &  Co.  also  decorated  the  front  of  their  ware- 
house with  red,  white  and  blue  festoons. 

Messrs.  Canfield  &  Bro.  ornamented  the  front  of  their  large  jewelry 
establishment,  at  the  corner  of  Charles  street,  with  a  number  of  small 
flags,  which  had  a  very  pleasing  eftect.  Messrs.  J.  Edward  Bird  &  Bro. 
decorated  their  beautiful  front  with  red,  white  and  blue  material,  the 
colors  being  placed  in  alternate  transverse  sections. 

Among  the  conspicuous  objects  of  intei-est  to  the  guests  as  they 
passed  down  towards  the  Institute,  was  the  new  and  magnificent  white 
marble  Drygoods  House  of  Hamilton  Easter  &  Co.,  who  have  adorned 
Baltimore's  Broadway  with  a  structure  rivalling  Stewart's  famous  New 
York  store,  in  its  general  effect. 

The  new  and  large  white  white  marble  Book  and  Printing  House 
of  John  iMurphy  &  Co.,  opposite  Light  street,  deserves  mention  here 
for  its  beautiful  appearance. 


54  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO   THE    EAST. 

From  the  splendid  iron-front  warehouse  and  office  of  the  Adams' 
Express  Co.  was  suspended  over  the  middle  of  the  street  a  large 
national  flag,  with  the  words  attached,  "  Welcome  the  Great  West !" 
'•  Adams'  Express  Company,"  in  large  letters,  was  at  the  end  of  the 
flag  next  the  cord. 

The  American  office  was  skilfully  and  beautifully  decorated  by 
Mr.  T.  jNI.  Conradt,  the  favorite  Upholsterer.  Along  the  awning  were 
festoons  of  loosely  plaited  red,  white  and  blue  stripes.  On  the  front 
of  the  second  story  was  a  large  full-length  figure  of  the  Goddess  of 
Liberty,  supported  on  the  right  by  a  figure  of  Washington,  and  on 
the  left  by  that  of  Lafayette  with  full  length,  the  whole  draped 
with  red,  white  and  blue  material.  Above  these  three  figures  was 
a  tablet  with  the  word  '•  Welcome "  in  large  antique  letters.  Be- 
tween the  second  and  third  stories  and  along  the  top  of  the  third 
were  displayed  heavy  folds  of  material,  colored  as  those  already  men- 
tioned. The  two  spires  which  surmount  the  front  were  fully  draped, 
and  American  flags  were  displayed  from  staves  at  their  summits. 
From  several  windows  flags  were  flying,  and  the  large  national  flag 
belonging  to  the  office  was  suspended  across  the  street.  The  Clipper 
and  Patriot  offices  displayed  their  large  American  colors ;  while  the 
Sun  building — which  is  one  of  the  city's  standing  decorations, — also 
displayed  its  flag. 

The  building  occupied  by  Messrs.  Connolly  &  Lloyd  and  by  Adams' 
Sewing  Establishment,  was  plentifully  decorated  with  red,  white  and 
blue  swallow-tailed  pennons,  such  as  are  used  by  lancers. 

The  House  Telegraph  office  and  Wra.  F.  Richstein's  bookstore  were 
decorated  with  American  flags,  and  red,  white  and  blue  festoons.  The 
regalia  establishment  of  Mrs.  Sisco  was  ornamented  with  flags. 

From  the  armory  of  the  Baltimore  City  Guards  the  word  "  Wel- 
come "  in  very  large  fancy  letters  was  stretched  across  the  street,  and 
from  the  windows  were  displayed  several  company  flags. 

From  the  room  of  the  Friendship  Fire  Company  on  the  southeast 
comer  of  Frederick  and  Baltimore  streets  was  stretched  to  the  north- 
east corner  a  flag,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  a  shield  having  upon  it  the 
figure  of  two  men,  one  in  fireman's  costume,  the  other  in  citizen's 
dress,  shaking  hands  ;  above  this  shield  was  that  of  the  American  coat 
of  arms  lying  down,  and  upon  it  an  eagle ;  below  it  were  two  hands 
clasped  in  greeting.  The  whole  was  surrounded  with  the  national 
ensign  in  heavy  folds.     Upon  the  right  of  the  centre  piece  a  locomo- 


TIIR    DECORATIONS    AT    BALTIMORE.  55 

tive  with  a  train  attached  was  coming  up  to  the  front,  and  upon  the 
left  a  number  of  Indians  were  at  work  on  a  canoe.  The  motto,  painted 
in  lar^e  letters,  was  "  In  Friendship  we  Progress." 

Mr.  Givens,  the  "Chinaman,"  placed  several  good  sized  cedars 
along  the  curb  in  front  of  his  store,  the  deep  green  of  which  gave  relief 
to  the  eye  after  it  had  been  resting  on  the  bright  colors  elsewhere. 

Mr.  James  Kidd,  the  confectioner,  put  up  along  his  awning  a  light 
arch  festooned  with  red,  white  and  blue,  enclosing  the  motto,  '•  Wel- 
come to  our  Hearts  and  Homes."  Upon  the  chord  of  the  arch  was  a 
miniature  locomotive  and  train  of  passenger  cars.  In  a  frame,  sus- 
pended in  the  arch  just  under  the  keystone,  were  the  mottoes  "Our 
Country,"  "  Union,"  with  two  hands  clasped,  and  under  these  words 
"  North  and  South."  The  whole  affair  was  surmounted  with  a  por- 
trait of  Washington,  and  ornamented  with  red,  white  and  blue  drapery, 
relieved  by  the  deep  green  of  a  wreath  of  box. 

The  exten.sive  new  clothing  establishment  of  Messrs.  Wicsenfield 
&  Bro.,  on  the  corner  of  Market  Space,  was  profusely  decorated  be- 
tween the  stories  with  red,  white  and  blue  festoons.  On  the  front  of 
the  second  story  were  placed  portraits  of  Clay  and  Webster,  and  be- 
tween them  a  miniature  copy  from  the  Battle  Monument  in  a  niche  of 
the  same  material  as  the  festoons.  On  the  third  story  front  was  a 
portrait  of  Washington,  and  above  that  the  words  "  Welcome  to  our 
Western  Guests."  In  the  centre  of  the  fourth  story  front  was  a 
colored  picture  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty. 

The  triumphal  arch,  however,  was  the  most  conspicuous  decoration 
that  was  put  up  on  the  occasion.  It  was  built  at  the  instance  of  Pio- 
neer Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No.  1,  under  the  immediate  superia- 
tendeiice  of  its  members.  The  arch  was  built  over  Baltimore  street  at 
the  intersection  of  Harrison  street,  and  the  procession  passed  under  it, 
and  then  turned  to  go  into  the  Institute  Hall.  Tiie  columns  on  each 
side  were  square  and  wiiite  with  blue  corners  and  capitals.  Upon 
these  columns  were  hung  a  number  of  pictures  of  scenes  in  the  life  of  a 
fireman.  On  the  inward  side  of  the  northern  column  were  the  names 
of  the  visiting  cities,  in  this  order,  beginning  at  the  top :  Chillicothe, 
St.  Louis,  Cincinnati.  On  the  southern  were  the  names  ranged  thus : 
Cincinnati,  Chillicothe,  St.  Louis.  The  names  were  of  white  frost-work 
upon  blue  scrolls.  The  outside  of  the  structure  was  square  in  its  out- 
line, and  at  the  corners,  fiom  the  capitals  of  the  columns  to  the  top, 
the  white  ground  was  relieved  at  the  corners  by  red  and  blue  stripes. 


56  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

The  corners  formed  by  the  fronts  and  inside  of  the  arch  were  covered 
with  evergreens  made  ropewise.  Upon  the  front  on  one  side  of  the 
keystone,  reading  from  left  to  right,  was  the  title  of  the  compan}^, 
'•  Pioneer  H.  &  L,  Company,  No.  1."  Over  it  the  word  "  Welcome," 
in  large  letters ;  on  the  other  side,  "  To  the  City's  Guests ;"  the  let- 
tering, like  all  on  the  arch,  being  of  white  frost-work  on  a  blue  ground. 
The  whole  structure  was  surrounded  by  a  large  American  shield,  sup- 
porting an  eagle.  The  height  of  the  structure  was  about  sixty  feet. 
As  may  be  supposed,  it  is  difficult  to  give  a  definite  idea  of  any  thing 
of  this  kind  by  words.  This  arch  was  the  only  attempt  by  any  asso- 
ciation to  get  up  a  decoration  of  importance,  except  the  ornamenting 
of  the  New  Market  Engine  House  with  flags,  &c.,  a  description  of 
which  will  be  found  below.  The  company  also  suspended  an  immense 
flag  across  Harrison  street,  and  placed  both  its  trucks  on  Baltimore 
steets. 

"With  the  Eutaw  street  display,  may  be  included  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Company's  Camden  Station.  From  the  stories  of  the  steeple  of 
the  office  building  several  flags  were  displayed,  one  of  the  largest  hav- 
ing on  it  the  name  "  St.  Louis ; "  on  a  flag  flying  from  the  right  side  of 
the  building  was  the  name  "  Cincinnati,"  and  on  a  similar  one  on  the 
left  side  was  the  name  "  Chillicothe."  A  lai-ge  flag  was  hoisted  at  the 
ticket  office  on  Conway  street,  and  across  Conway,  at  Eutaw  street, 
was  a  flag  with  the  words  '■  Welcome  St.  Louis."  From  Broaders' 
"Washington  Hotel  a  number  of  flags  were  flying,  and  one  was  stretched 
across  the  street,  displaying  the  words  "  Welcome  to  Baltimore." 

In  Eutaw  street  a  large  flag,  suspended  on  a  long  piece  of  leather 
hose,  was  flying  from  the  large  Card  and  Hose  manufacturing  estab- 
lishment of  jMr.  T.  H.  Haskell. 

One  of  the  most  conspicuous,  liberal,  and  effective  displays,  was  that 
made  by  the  great  piano-forte  manufac^turers,  Wm.  Knabe  &  Co.,  whose 
large  factories,  on  both  North  and  South  Eutaw  streets,  as  well  as 
their  new  sales-rooms  on  Baltimore  street,  were  all  beautifully  deco- 
rated. 

At  the  intersection  of  Franklin  and  Eutaw  streets,  a  flag  was  sus- 
pended across  the  latter-named  street,  having  on  it  this  sentiment, 
"  AVelcome  Visitors  ;  the  Guests  of  the  West  and  the  citizens  of  Balti- 
more— may  their  hearts  be  like  their  cities,  iron-bound  together." 
There  was  also  an  American  flag  at  each  end  of  this  one.  The  Gilmor 
House  displayed  an  immense  burgee  with  the  name  of  the  hotel,  and 
relieved  by  an  American  jack  at  one  end,  and  a  red  and  white  flag  at 


THE    ARRIVAL    AT    BALTIMORE THE    MILITARY    ESCORT.  57 

the  other.  The  two  centre  columns  of  the  second  story  portico  were 
draped  with  broad  stripes  of  the  national  colors. 

At  the  Relay  House,  at  10  o'clock,  the  excursionists  again  took  the 
trains,  now  thrown  into  one,  with  the  beautiful  locomotive  and  cars 
gayly  decorated  with  flags,  and  moved  onward  to  Baltimore.  As  they 
nt^ared  the  city,  the  preparations  for  the  reception  ceremonies  began 
to  demonstrate  to  the  visitors  the  earnestness  of  the  welcome  awaiting 
them.  Groups  of  people  were  formed  at  diiFerent  points  on  the  out- 
skirts, and  from  the  windows  of  the  houses  welcomes  were  waved  to 
the  excursionists. 

At  half-past  ten  o'clock  the  train  entered  the  Camden  street  station, 
amidst  the  cheering  of  the  many  thousands  who  had  gathered  there. 
The  visitors,  in  accordance  with  previous  arrangements,  remained  in 
the  cars  until  the  carriages  were  prepared  for  their  reception.  This 
was  accomplished  comfortably  and  without  unnecessary  loss  of  time — 
the  city  police,  under  Marshals  Herring  and  Manly,  maintaining  ex- 
cellent order,  keeping  the  premises  clear — and  at  11  o'clock  the  pro- 
cession was  formed  and  moved  in  the  following  order  : 

The  escort,  consisting  of  the  United  States  troops  and  a  portion  of 
the  First  Light  Division  of  Mar^'^land  Volunteers,  were  posted  on 
Eutaw  street,  with  the  right  resting  on  Saratoga  street,  extending 
southwardly.  As  soon  as  the  guests  were  comfortably  seated  in  the 
long  tram  of  barouches  and  carriages,  the  trumpets  of  the  artillery 
gave  the  signal  for  the  column  to  proceed,  which  was  precisely  at 
eleven  o'clock.     It  moved  along  the  route  in  the  following  order : 

The  Chief  Marshal,  Geo.  W.  Herring.  Aids:  Lieut.  Col.  A.  P. 
Shutt,  Major  J.  G.  Johannes,  Col.  J.  T.  Farlow,  Col.  M.  Benzinger, 
Major  Jos.  J.  Robinson,  L.  F.  Barry,  Wm.  H.  Quincy,  F.  C.  Crowley, 
Dr.  J.  "W.  Houck,  Thomas  Creamer. 

Nearly  all  the  aids  wore  broad  sashes  of  white  satin,  and  such  as 
belonged  to  the  various  regiments  were  in  full  uniform.  All  were 
supei'bly  mounted,  and  gave  a  beautiful  appearance  to  the  head  of  the 
line.     The  military  appeared  in  the  following  order,  viz.  : 

Batteries  of  United  States  Artillery^  under  the  command  of  Major 
William  H.  French,  as  follows :  Company  A  of  the  Second  Regiment 
of  Artillery,  Lieutenants  Larned,  Mullin  and  Smith ;  Company  K  of 
the  First  Artillery  Regiment,  commanded  by  Lieutenants  Davis,  Gil- 
Ian  and  Cooper.  Both  companies  paraded  their  strength,  mustering 
about  170  men  rank  and  file,  with  eight  field  pieces  and  eight  cais- 
3* 


58  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

sons,  all  in  the  finest  possible  order,  and  exhibiting  a  high  state  of 
discipline.  First  Light  Division  Maryland  Volunteers. — Maj.  Gen. 
Geo.  H.  Steuart,  commanding.  Brigadier  Gen.  N.  Hickman,  command- 
ing First  Light  Brigade,  with  the  following  staff  and  other  oflBcers : 
Col.  Richard  Lilly,  Major  W.  H.  Hayward,  Paymaster  Hugh  Gel- 
ston,  Jr.,  Quarter-Master  John  W.  Watkins,  Jr.  Fifth  Regiment  of 
Infantry. — City  Cornet  Band,  Capt.  Feltman ;  Law  Grays,  Captain 
Thomas  Bowers,  First  Lieut.  Alex.  Cross ;  National  Cornet  Band, 
Capt.  Egger  ;  German  Riflemen's  Band,  Capt.  Scheiber ;  Maryland 
Guards,  Lieutenants  James  McLaughlin  and  George  A.  Freeburger; 
Jackson  Guards,  Captain  Antone  Heiderick.  Second  Brigade  Fifty- 
third  Regiment. — Lieut.  Colonel  Samuel  S.  Mills,  commanding ;  Pay- 
master Richard  H.  Tyson,  acting  Major  ;  Lieut.  J.  M.  Wampler,  of  the 
Lafayette  Guards,  acting  as  Adjutant ;  William  H.  Cole,  Quarter- 
master's Sergeant ;  Lidcpendent  Blues'  Band,  Capt.  Holland ;  Balti- 
more City  Guards,  Cajjtain  Joseph  P.  Warner ;  first  Lieutenant,  Lloyd 
B.  Parks ;  second  Lieutenant,  David  E.  Woodburn ;  third  Lieutenant, 
Ellis  Coleman.  Cornet  Band  of  the  Linhart's.  led  by  Captain  Philip 
Linhart.  Marion  Reseiwe  Guard,  Captain  Samuel  T.  Harvey ;  first 
Lieutenant,  James  K.  Elderkiu ;  second  Lieutenant,  James  H.  Speakes ; 
third  Lieutenant,  Dowling. 

Independent  Greys,  under  the  command  of  First  Lieutenant  Benja- 
min Simpson.  The  Greys  ended  the  militarj'  escort.  The  column 
extended  a  half-mile  in  length,  and  presented  a  brilliant  and  soldier- 
like appearance. 

Following  the  military  were  three  omnibuses,  in  which  were  seated 
Captain  Mentor's  Cornet  Band,  of  Cincinnati,  and  Le  Brun's  Brass 
Band,  of  St.  Louis,  both  of  whom  discoursed  alternately  with  the  Bal- 
timore bands — there  being  seven  in  the  line. 

The  barouches  and  carriages  (110  in  number,  and  furnished  by  the 
Stewarts)  came  next.  They  were  flanked  by  a  detachment  of  two 
hundred  city  police,  all  in  full  uniform,  and  appearing  as  a  civic  guard 
of  honor.  The  first  barouche,  drawn  by  four  beautiful  white  horses, 
contained  His  Honor  Mayor  Swann,  His  Excellency  Governor  Chase, 
of  Ohio,  and  his  Aids-de-Camp,  Col.  H.  B.  Carrington,  and  Col.  Wil- 
liam McMillcn.  Previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  guests,  the  Ma^-or 
called  on  these  gentlemen  at  the  Gilmor  House,  in  his  family  coach, 
and  escorted  them  to  the  Camden  Station,  where  they  awaited  the  ar- 
rival of  the  other  excursionists. 

The  second  and  third  barouches  contained  John  B.  Siedenstricker, 


THE    GRAND    PROCESSION    AT   BALTIMORE.  59 

President  of  the  Second  Council,  and  John  F.  McJilton,  President  of 
the  First  Branch  of  Baltimore,  with  some  of  the  more  distinguished 
guests,  whilst  they  were  followed  by  a  train  of  over  one  hundred 
coaches,  each  containing  from  three  to  five  of  the  guests — and  which 
alone  extended  the  length  of  a  full  mile. 

The  procession  passed  over  the  following  route  :  Up  Eutaw  street 
to  Madison  street ;  Madison  street  to  Charles ;  around  the  Washington 
Monument;  Monument  street  to  Park  street;  Park  to  Franklin; 
Franklin  to  Charles  ;  Charles  to  Fayette  ;  Fayette  to  Eutaw  ;  Eutaw 
to  Baltimore  street,  down  Baltimore  street. 

Upon  the  head  of  the  column  reaching  the  intersection  of  Baltimore 
and  Calvert  streets,  the  artillery  passed  up  Calvert  to  Fayette  street, 
and  thence  down  into  Baltimore  by  way  of  Gay  street,  and  dashed 
along  at  full  speed,  so  as  to  throw  its  right  on  Baltimore  street,  at 
Calvert.  The  remainder  of  the  escort  then  moved  down  Baltimore 
street  and  took  position  on  the  left  of  the  artillery,  where  it  came  to  a 
present,  and  saluted  the  visitors  as  they  passed  into  the  Hall. 

Nothing  of  imusual  interest  occurred  along  the  route,  except  that 
all  the  splendid  dwellings  and  public  houses  of  every  character  were 
crowded  with  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  citizens,  mostly 
ladies,  all  of  whom  apparentlj^  were  much  gratified  upon  seeing  the 
visitors  from  the  West  in  such  good  hands. 

The  scene  presented  as  the  procession  passed  over  the  route,  was 
one  of  the  most  effective  and  attractive  pageants  which  has  at  any  time 
elicited  the  sympathies  and  admiration  of  the  people  of  our  great 
cities.  The  gay  decorations  of  the  houses,  the  waving  flags  which 
reached  in  every  direction  as  far  as  vision  extended,  the  brilliant  ap- 
pearance of  the  military,  tlw  resoimding  music  of  the  bands,  and  above 
all,  the  presence  and  enthusiasm  of  the  immense  mass  of  people, — who 
along  the  side-walks,  from  the  windows,  house-tops,  and  every  eleva- 
tion that  promised  a  view  of  the  cortege,  greeted  with  loud  and  con- 
stantly-renewed shouts  of  welcome  the  excursionists  as  they  slowly 
filed  past  in  the  long  line  of  carriages  provided  for  their  accommoda- 
tion— were  the  imposing  characteristics  of  this  most  exciting  demon- 
stration. The  guests  themselves  thoroughly  participated  in  the  ex- 
citement and  enthusiasm  of  the  spectacle,  and  evidenced  their  generous 
appreciation  of  the  popular  manifestation.  The  weariness  following 
their  long  confinement  in  the  cars  in  midsummer,  disappeared  in  the 
presence  of  the  cordial  salutations  and  impressive  welcomings  offered 
them.    Leaning  from  the  vehicles,  they  enjoyed  the  brilliant  panoramic 


60  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

scene  passing  before  them,  and  returned  with  earnestness  the  cheer- 
ings  and  other  greetings  showered  from  every  side. 

As  the  cortege  passed  the  extensive  daguerrean  establishment  of 
Mr.  Henry  Pollock,  on  Baltimore  street  near  Calvert,  numerous  views 
of  the  surrounding  vicinity,  with  the  different  portions  of  the  proces- 
sion passing  at  the  moment,  were  skilfully  taken  by  the  proficient 
head  of  that  popular  gallery.  These  views  were  subsequently  pho- 
tographed on  paper,  and  many  of  them  were  procured  by  the  guests  as 
interesting  souvenirs  of  the  occasion. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  entrance  to  the  JIaryland  Institute  Hall,  the 
imposing  aspect  of  this  grand  civic  demonstration  culminated.  A 
dense  mass  of  people  covered  every  available  foot  of  ground,  from  the 
windows  fluttered  innumerable  white  handkerchiefs  proclaiming  the 
ladies'  interest  in  the  scene,  whilst  far  down  Baltimore  street  was  a 
"  sea  of  up-turned  faces,"  framed,  as  it  were,  in  the  triumphal  ai'ch 
which  spanned  the  street  at  this  point,  and  presenting  an  animated 
picture  that  no  mere  grouping  of  art  could  have  excelled.  As  the 
military  escort  reached  the  Hall,  they  filed  off  right  and  left,  leaving  a 
lane  in  the  centre  through  which  the  carriages  approached,  the  police 
in  open  lines  took  possession  of  the  immediate  approach  to  the  Hall, 
and  as  the  guests,  accompanied  by  the  various  committees,  alighted, 
they  were  conducted  up  the  broad  stairway  into  the  grand  saloon. 

The  capacious  hall  of  the  Institute  was  tastefully  decorated  with 
streamers,  flags,  and  banners  of  various  associations.  The  front  of  the 
speaker's  stand  was  festooned  with  white  and  blue  streamers  loosely 
plaited.  The  back  of  the  stand  was  covered  with  a  large  American 
flag,  relieved  by  the  banners  of  several  Lodges  of  Odd  Fellows.  Two 
large  streamers,  looped  up  to  the  ceiling,  stretched  across  the  hall,  di- 
vided its  length  into  three  equal  parts,  and  all  around  the  galleries 
the  national  colors  hung  in  festoons.  Full-length  figures  of  Washing- 
ton, Jefferson,  Lafayette,  and  Franklin,  adorned  the  walls.  Directly 
over  the  gallery,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  room,  was  a  flag  with  this  in- 
scription :  "  A  Hearty  Welcome  from  Baltimore  to  the  West." 

Upon  the  rostrum  the  following  gentlemen  were  arranged :  Mayor 
Swann,  of  B;iltimore  ;  Gov.  Chase,  of  Ohio  ;  Mayor  Adams,  of  Chilli- 
cothe  ;  Colonels  McMillen  and  Carringtou,  Aids  to  Gov.  Chase,  in  full 
uniform ;  Messrs.  Seidenstricker  and  McJilton,  Presidents  of  the  two 
Branches  of  the  City  Council  of  Baltimore  ;  Judge  Pruden,  represent- 
ing the  Ma)'or,  and  B.  Eggleston,  representing  the  City  Council  of  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio ;  George  K.  Taylor,  President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen, 


THE  RECEPTION  CEREMONIES  AT  THE  MARYLAND  INSTITUTE.       61 

and  then  representing!:  the  Mayor  of  St.  Louis  ;  the  city  authorities  of 
Baltimore,  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  and  Chillicothe,  and  the  representa- 
tives of  the  Western  press,  whose  names  are  given  in  the  list  already 
presented.  The  excursionists  occupied  seats  immediately  in  front  of 
the  rostrum.  The  galleries  were  exclusively  devoted  to  the  use  of  the 
ladies,  and  the  display  of  beauty  and  fashion,  and  the  fluttering  of  fans 
and  handkerchiefs,  made  this  one  of  the  features  of  the  reception.  The 
tasty  decorations  of  the  hall,  the  animated  throng  which  occupied 
everj'  portion  of  the  immense  saloon,  the  fine  music  of  the  bands,  and 
the  pleasant  excitement  in  which  all  seemed  to  indulge,  made  the  scene 
one  of  the  most  effective  that  has  ever  been  presented  in  our  city. 

The  visitors  all  being  seated  in  the  Ilall,  the  doors  were  opened  to 
the  public,  and  whilst  the  band  played  the  national  air  of "'  Hail  Co- 
lumbia," the  citizens  soon  filled  the  vast  area  behind  the  visitors. 

As  soon  as  order  was  had  in  the  audience,  Chauncy  Brooks,  the 
President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  arose,  and  stated  that, 

Having  received  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  the  distinguished  guests  of  the 
city  of  Baltimore,  from  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  and  Chillicothe,  he  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  announcing  that  he  had  safely  conducted  them  to  our  city.  It  only  re- 
mained for  him  to  say  that  they  would  be  publicly  welcomed  to  Baltimore  by 
the  honored  Mayor  of  the  city. 

His  Honor,  Thomas  Swann.  !Mayor  of  Baltimore,  then  rose  and  de- 
livered, in  liis  accustomed  impressive  manner,  the  following 

ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME. 

Gentlemen:  The  honor  which  has  been  conferred  upon  us  by  your  pres- 
ence here  to-day,  is  an  event  which  has  seldom  occurred  in  the  past  history  of 
this  State.  The  corporate  authorities  of  three  great  cities,  occupying  the 
same  parallel  of  latitude  with  our  own,  situated  upon  the  line  of  the  national 
highway  which  spans  the  entire  breadth  of  our  public  domain,  from  the  valley 
of  the  Mississippi  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  are  here  in  our  midst,  to  recognize,  by 
an  interchange  of  friendly  courtesies,  the  common  interests  and  common  sym- 
pathies by  which  we  are  bound  together  ;  and  to  draw  closer  the  ties  of  social 
brotherhood.  The  compliment  is  not  without  its  appreciation.  "We  receive 
you,  one  and  all,  in  a  spirit  of  reciprocal  welcome.  Whatever  of  generous  im- 
pulse or  kindly  prepossession  has  prompted  this  act  of  municipal  courtesy  on 
your  part,  we  need  hardly  assure  you  that  it  meets  a  ready  response  in  the 
heart  of  every  Baltimorean  and  every  Marylander  here  present.     [Applause.] 

A  few  weeks  ago,  in  connection  with  a  representation  of  distingiiisbed  citi- 


62  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN   AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

zens  from  almost  every  sectioTi  of  our  Union,  in  the  presence  of  the  high  digni- 
taries of  our  own  government,  as  well  as  the  accredited  agents  of  foreign 
states,  we  were  called  to  inaugurate  an  event  of  great  national  importance — 
honorable  alike  to  you  and  to  us.  The  celebration  to  which  I  refer,  whose 
stirring  incidents  are  so  fresh  in  the  recollection  of  us  all,  proclaimed  the  open- 
ing of  a  line  of  communication  a  thousand  miles  in  extent — with  the  cities  of 
St.  Louis  and  Baltimore  at  the  two  extremes ;  and  united  in  bonds  of  com- 
mercial fellowship  the  important  sections  represented  here  to-day,  which  are 
destined  to  contribute  most  largely  to  our  advancement  and  prosperity  in  the 
future.     [Loud  applause.] 

The  triumphs  of  human  skill  and  enterprise  have  been  sufficiently  manifest 
in  the  varied  journey  through  which  you  have  passed.  You  have  the  same 
evidences  in  what  you  see  around  you.  Scarcely  a  century  ago  this  goodly 
city,  whose  population  has  now  reached  a  limit  of  little  less  than  two  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  souls — whose  crowded  streets  and  stately  edifices  give  token 
of  the  career  upon  which  she  has  entered — numbered  just  twenty-five  houses 
aud  two  hundred  inhabitants.  A  brig  and  a  sloop  constituted  her  whole  ma- 
rine list.  In  a  space  of  fifty  years  she  had  increased  her  numbers  to  twenty- 
six  thousand — a  great  achievement  in  those  early  times,  when  it  is  recollected 
that  the  white  population  had  scarcely  penetrated  beyond  the  Ohio  river,  and 
the  fertile  region  upon  which  we  have  since  drawn  so  largely,  was  a  locked-up 
and  forbidden  land.  In  1827,  when  the  first  meeting  was  held  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  a  railway  communication  with  the  AVest,  the  whole  taxable  ba- 
sis of  the  city  of  Baltimore  did  not  ea-ceed  §(25,000,000.  These  evidences  of 
tardy  growth  in  the  earlj'  stages  of  this  government,  are  referable  to  causes 
which  the  more  recent  introduction  of  steam  will  sufficiently  explain. 

With  you,  gentlemen,  the  same  indications  have  attended  the  progress  of 
Western  expansion.  If  we  go  back  to  the  early  explorations  of  Christopher 
Gist  and  Daniel  Boone,  not  a  century  ago,  we  find  the  Indian  watch  fires 
burning  upon  the  sites  of  what  have  since  become  prosperous  and  thriving 
cities.  At  the  time  of  Wayne's  treaty,  about  the  year  1800,  the  whole  Miami 
country,  with  the  exception  of  Cincinnati,  was  an  undisturbed  wilderness,  and, 
at  the  same  period,  the  population  of  that  great  city  did  not  exceed  seven  hun- 
dred and  fifty  inhabitants.  In  1828,  before  the  effect  of  her  internal  improve- 
ments began  to  be  felt,  her  white  population  had  barely  reached  a  limit  of 
twenty-five  thousand  souls. 

Until  within  the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  the  progressive  energies  of  our 
people  had  scarcely  found  a  vent,  in  those  efforts  of  power  and  development 
which  have  since  resulted  in  so  many  stupendous  works  of  skill  aud  enterprise, 
which  stand  forth  in  every  State  as  enduring  characteristics  of  the  age.  Steam, 
gentlemen,  is  the  active  agent  to  which  wc  are  indebted  for  this  new  impetus 
■which  has  been  given  to   the   march  of  imjirovement.     The  tardy  sail  of  the 


MAYOR    SWANN's    ADDRESS    OF    WKLCOME    TO    BALTIMORE.         63 

primitive  boatman  is  no  longer  the  sole  dependence  of  the  navigator  of  your 
Western  rivers.  The  voice  of  the  locomotive  is  heard  in  the  valleys  and  upon 
the  hill-tops ;  it  has  driven  before  it  the  red  man  of  the  forest ;  it  has  sur- 
mounted obstacles  heretofore  deemed  to  be  impregnable,  and  has  raised  its 
shout  of  triumph  amidst  the  repose  of  centuries.     [Renewed  applause.] 

The  beautiful  plain  on  which  Chillicothe  now  stands  was  once,  within  the 
recollection  of  some  here  present,  the  favorite  haunt  of  the  Indian.  Since  her 
first  settlement,  with  a  surrovmding  country  unsurpassed  in  fertility  and  pro- 
ductiveness, she  has  been  shut  out  from  the  benefits  of  a  liberal  commercial  in- 
terchange. It  is  only  now,  since  the  opening  cf  the  American  Central  Road, 
that  the  steam  whistle  has  proclaimed  her  release  from  the  thraldom  in  which 
she  has  so  long  struggled,  and  opened  upon  her  a  prospect  of  enlarged  growth 
and  usefulness.     [Applause.] 

And  further,  still  further,  in  the  recesses  of  that  vast  domain,  which 
stretches  away  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  your  beautiful  city  of  St.  Louis — 
the  abode  of  generous  hearts  and  noble  impulses — [great  applause  by  the  Bal- 
timoreans,]  has  only  within  a  few  weeks  past  stretched  forth  her  iron  arm,  to 
meet  the  embrace  of  her  adventurous  allies,  in  the  completion  of  that  stupen- 
dous work  which  has  aided  in  bearing  you  to  our  midst,  in  comhination  with 
the  associate  lines  over  which  you  have  passed. 

Your  journey  here  to-day  is  one  of  significant  import.  The  past  and  the 
future  crowd  upon  us  with  their  lessons  of  patient  endurance,  indomitable  eflfort, 
and  successful  triumph.  It  is  no  common  jubilee  which  unites  upon  the  soil  of 
the  State  of  Maryland  the  corporate  authorities  and  distinguished  citizens  of 
the  remote  states  and  cities  which  you  represent,  whose  increasing  treasures 
lie  scattered  along  the  extended  line  of  intercommunication  which  you  have 
opened,  with  our  co-operation,  between  the  Chesapeake  and  the  teeming  val- 
ley of  the  Mississippi.     [Great  Applause.] 

The  city  of  Baltimore,  gentlemen,  stands  prominent  in  that  great  commer- 
cial league  which,  in  times  past,  even  before  railroads  were  known  or  heard  of, 
had  its  origin  in  the  necessities  of  convenient  distance  and  a  free  commercial 
traffic.  Planting  herself  upon  the  extreme  verge  of  one  of  the  boldest  indenta- 
tions which  breaks  the  margin  of  the  noble  bay  on  which  she  stands,  she  has 
stepped  forth  to  give  the  first  welcome  to  the  trade  of  the  West.  A  glance  at 
her  past  history  will  show  how  diligently  she  has  labored  in  the  effort  to  do 
justice  to  her  geographical  position.  She  has  manifested  a  becoming  zeal  in  the 
appropriation  and  protection  of  her  sacred  birthright.  With  an  aggregate  pop- 
ulation of  little  more  than  half  a  million  in  the  entire  State  to  which  she  be- 
longs, she  has  maintained,  unaided,  a  successful  rivalry  with  the  giant  cities  of 
the  North.  By  a  mighty  effort — an  expenditure  of  thirty  milhous  of  capital — 
slie  has  established  a  terminus  on  your  northern  frontier.  Another,  and  not 
less  determined  move,  finds  her  arms  outstretched  towards  a  shorter  and  more 


64  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

direct  communication  ^\dth  that  central  highway  so  lately  brought  into  use, 
whose  lengthened  chain — extending  onward  and  onward,  with  Chillicothe 
and  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis  as  links  in  the  brilliant  combination — is  destined 
sooner  or  later  to  bind  together  the  two  great  oceans  that  wash  our  Eastern 
and  Western  borders.  Still  jealous  of  her  more  powerful  rivals,  she  has 
tapped  the  trunk  line  of  a  sister  State,  and  even  now,  when  the  struggle  is  at 
an  end — when  the  battle  has  been  fought  and  won — when  the  prize  is  in  her 
own  hand,  and  we  are  assembled  to  rejoice  together  in  the  encouraging  pros- 
pect which  is  already  beginning  to  dawn,  we  find  her  casting  a  jealous  eye  to 
the  head  waters  of  the  Ohio,  and  engaging  in  the  constniction  of  a  line  of  com- 
munication in  direct  contact  with  the  terminus  of  a  rival  work,  in  order  to 
claim  a  participation  in  the  fruits  of  that  productive  region.  [Great  and  hearty 
Applause.] 

In  this  stmggle  for  commercial  ascendency — stimulated  and  urged  on  by 
the  advantages  of  her  natural  position — the  city  of  Baltimore  has  been  actua- 
ted by  no  mean  and  grovelling  spirit.  She  has  watched  with  pride  the  efforts 
of  her  northern  sisters.  Tracing  their  descent  from  the  same  common  stock — 
members  of  the  same  glorious  Union — embarked  in  the  same  great  work  of 
physical  development — she  has  recognized  without  disparagement  the  tri- 
umphs of  engineering  skill  and  financial  power,  which  have  called  into  being 
some  of  the  proudest  monuments  which  this  country  can  boast.  North,  South, 
East  and  West,  she  hails  the  developments  of  American  progress  as  part  and 
parcel  of  a  common  renown.     [Renewed  Applause.] 

The  advantages  of  the  position  which  we  occupy  here,  in  reference  to 
the  States  which  you  represent,  will  be  apparent  when  you  measure  the  dis- 
tance to  points  similarly  situated,  and  claiming  a  share  in  the  profits  of  West- 
ern commerce.  Baltimore  justly  aspires  to  the  destiny,  at  no  remote  period, 
of  a  powerful  and  stately  City.  She  has  already  ceased  to  be  a  point  of  local 
transit  and  distribution  merely.  The  comparatively  imperfect  arrangements 
under  which  she  has  heretofore  acted,  have  given  her  the  daily  control  of  more 
than  1,000  tons  of  Western  produce.  AVhen  this  shall  have  been  trebled — a 
result  certain  to  be  realized  in  the  next  few  years — an  active  system  of  direct 
interchange  with  the  markets  of  the  world  will  be  the  immediate  consequence. 
Already,  her  claims  as  the  key  of  the  Western  and  Southern  States,  in  those 
more  remote  combinations  which  look  to  the  future  of  our  glorious  Union,  are 
being  recognized  by  the  General  Government.     [Applause.] 

Improvements  are  going  forward,  with  the  co-operation  of  Congress,  in- 
tended to  give  increased  facilities  to  our  mercantile  marine,  in  the  improve- 
ment and  removal  of  obstructions  in  our  harbor — the  effect  of  which  will  be, 
eventually,  to  ensure  the  free  and  unobstructed  passage  of  vessels  of  the  largest 
clfss  throughout  its  entire  length.  The  extraordinary  and  unsurpassed  min- 
eral resources  of  Western  Maryland,  point  here  also,  as  a  suitable  location  for 


MAYOR   SWANn's    ADDRESS    OF    WELCOME.  65 

a  naval  depot,  for  the  supply  and  defence  of  the  Atlantic  coast.  Connections 
have  been  formed  with  every  accesbible  point  North  and  Sonth,  rendering  the 
city  of  Baltimore  a  market  of  easy  distribution,  whether  coastwise  or  with  ref- 
erence to  more  distant  combinations.  It  has  been  asserted,  and  is  believed  to 
be  susceptible  of  satisfiictory  demonstration,  that,  taking  the  Queen  City  of 
the  West  as  the  commercial  centre  of  that  particular  vicinage,  or  stiU  more 
remote,  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  the  most  convenient  line  of  approach  to  these 
points,  from  Boston  or  New  York,  would  be  through  the  city  of  Baltimore,  by 
the  improvement  which  you  have  so  lately  inaugurated,  rather  than  by  any 
existing  or  proposed  combinations  of  their  own.  These  are  interesting  inqui- 
ries to  you  here,  and  it  is  therefore  the  more  gratifying,  that  your  presence 
among  us  will  enable  you  to  verify,  by  actual  experiment,  what  might  other- 
wise have  been  treated  as  mere  speculation. 

The  completion  of  the  American  central  line  was  an  event,  I  repeat,  of  na- 
tional importance.  To  you  and. to  us  it  was  the  commencement  of  a  new 
epoch.  It  cemented  forever  the  covenant  made  by  nature  between  our  respec- 
tive sections.  It  consolidated  into  one  common  family  Baltimore,  and  Park- 
ersburg,  and  Athens,  and  Chillicothe,  and  Cincinnati,  and  Vincennes,  and 
St.  Louis,  with  their  kindred  supports.  It  bound  them  together  by  ties  of  in- 
dissoluble union.     [Further  Applause.] 

Gentlemen,  we  stand  here  upon  a  soil  consecrated  by  some  of  the  proudest 
reminiscences  of  our  revolutionary  history.  A  monument  dedicated  to  the  il- 
lustrious Washington  towers  above  you.  It  was  the  first  to  greet  your  wel- 
come approach,  and  will  be  the  last  to  fade  upon  your  departing  gaze.  Almost 
within  sight  of  the  spot  where  you  now  stand,  is  the  noble  city  which  bears 
his  name;  and  further  on,  upon  the  silent  banks  of  the  Potomac,  repose  his 
sacred  ashes.  That  great  man,  under  a  commission  of  the  Governor  of  "Vir- 
ginia, visited  what  was  then  the  great  West  in  1753.  The  French  and  the 
English  claimed  the  rightful  occupancy  of  a  territory  which  is  now  greater 
than  the  combined  possessions  of  both  in  the  Old  "World.  The  whole  country 
beyond  the  Ohio  River  was  little  more  than  an  impenetrable  waste.  The  visit 
of  Washington  was  not  without  its  practical  results.  It  indicated  the  proba- 
ble direction  of  Western  trade,  even  before  artificial  lines  of  intercourse  were 
thought  of,  and  fixed  the  seat  of  federal  government  upon  the  spot  which  it 
now  occupies.  It  is  proper  and  becoming  tliat  his  honored  name  should  be  ap- 
propriately associated  with  the  rejoicings  of  this  day.     [Hearty  Applause.] 

Gentlemen  from  the  far  West ! — Brothers  from  that  distant  city,  whose  gi- 
gantic eflForts  in  the  march  of  improvement  have  made  you  known  and  hon- 
ored beyond  the  limits  of  your  own  State,  we  bid  you  welcome  here  to-day. 
You  have  journeyed  a  distance  of  a  thousand  miles.  From  the  beautiful  val- 
ley of  the  Mississippi  you  have  been  transferred,  almost  by  magic,  to  the 
banks  of  the  Chesapeake.     We  receive  you  not  as  strangers.     In  times  past, 


66  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Baltimore  and  St.  Louis  claimed  their  descent  from  a  common  parentage. 
The  blood  of  our  ancestors  runs  in  your  veins.  The  sons  of  many  a  gallant 
spirit,  sleeping  upon  the  soil  of  the  State  of  Maryland,  have  sought  a  refuge 
and  a  home  in  j'our  midst.  In  all  the  characteristics  of  whole-souled  benevo- 
lence, in  commercial  honor  and  integrity,  in  boundless  and  never-ending  hos- 
pitality, who  shall  stand  before  the  kind  and  generous-hearted  citizens  of  St. 
Louis.     [Great  Applause.] 

And  you,  gentlemen  of  Cincinnati ! — we  extend  to  yon  the  same  cordial 
welcome.  [Renewed  Applause  ]  Coming  from  that  graceful  city — the  at- 
tractive centre  of  a  growing  commercial  system — whose  matured  image  and 
fair  proportions,  arrayed  like  a  bride  for  the  nuptials,  are  reflected  from  the  sur- 
face of  that  noble  river  which  bears  upon  its  bosom  the  treasures  of  so  many 
States,  we  open  to  you  our  hearts  and  homes,  in  recognition  of  your  ancient 
friendship.  Thrice  honored  should  we  feel,  when  the  Chief  Magistrate  of 
the  State  to  which  you  belong — a  man  who  shares  alike  your  admiration  and 
your  confidence — has  united  with  you  in  this  act  of  social  interchange,  and 
signalizes,  by  his  presence,  the  imposing  c3remonies  of  this  visit.  It  is  with 
no  unmeaning  purpose — no  attempt  at  empty  compliments — that  I  embrace 
this  occasion  to  reciprocate  here  the  kindness  so  liberally  extended  by  him  to 
the  corporate  authorities  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  upon  the  soil  of  his  adopted 
State.  I  reflect  the  sentiment  of  those  whom  I  represent,  M'hen  I  welcome  to 
our  midst  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Ohio.     [Applause.] 

And  not  less  entitled  to  our  distinguished  notice  in  this  assemblage,  are 
the  representatives  of  that  cherished  city,  for  whose  friendly  alliance  we 
have  shown  our  appreciation  in  past  times  by  so  many  efforts  to  tempt  her  to 
our  embrace.  The  opening  of  an  unobstructed  passage  to  the  Chesapeake, 
after  so  many  years  of  deferred  hope,  was  a  glorious  day  for  Chillicothe. 
We  cordially  invite  her  to  that  union  which  she  has  so  auspiciously  inaugu- 
rated.    [Applause.] 

The  incidents  of  this  day,  gentlemen,  will  be  long  remembered.  Such 
manifestations  of  reciprocal  courtesy  between  so  many  and  remote  States  can- 
not be  fruitless  of  results  in  all  our  relations — political,  commercial  and  sociaL 
They  will  soften  the  asperities  of  party  rancor —  they  will  rekindle  the  fires  of 
an  enlarged  patriotism — they  will  cause  us  to  value  more  highly  those  free 
institutions  under  which  we  have  been  enabled  to  accomplish  so  much  for  the 
benefit  of  ourselves  and  our  posterity — and  they  will  cement  by  stronger  ties 
that  bond  of  Union  which  has  secured  to  us,  so  long  as  it  shall  be  permitted  to 
endure,  the  multiplied  blessings  which  we  enjoy. 

Once  more,  fellow-citizens  of  the  great  West,  in  the  name  of  the  corporate 
authorities  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  I  bid  you  a  cordial  welcome. 

Mr.  Swann's  .speech  was  delivered  with  an  earnestness  and  efifect 


COL.  Hoffman's  address  of  welcome  for  the  citizens.      67 

that  told  upon  his  numerous  auditors,  and  the  visitors  were  especially 
ardent  in  its  praise. 

Mu.sic  by  the  Independent  Blues'  Band. 

His  Honor,  the  Mayor,  then  introduced,  with  the  following  remarks, 
S.  O wings  HoflFman,  the  Chairman  of  the  Citizens'  Reception  Com- 
mittee : 

Gentlemen :  You  are  aware  that  the  citizens  of  Baltimore,  jealous,  I  might 
almost  say,  of  the  participation  which  the  corporate  authorities  of  this  city 
have  borne  in  the  reception  of  our  fellow-citizeus  from  the  far  West,  have  ap- 
pointed a  committee,  who  are  here  to-day,  for  the  purpose  of  tendering  throuyh 
their  chairman,  a  cordial  welcome  upon  the  part  of  our  citizens  at  large  to  our 
fillow-citizens  of  the  West.  I  have  the  pleasure,  therefore,  to  introduce  to  you 
Mr.  HoflFman,  the  Chairman  of  the  Citizens'  Committee. 

Mr.  Hofifman  came  forward  and  said  ; 

Gentlemen:  I  can  add  but  little  to  the  eloquent  remarks  addressed  to  you 
by  our  Chief  Magistrate.  Our  only  purpose,  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of 
Baltimore  generally,  is  to  tender  to  you  a  most  cordial  welcome.  We  would 
not  respond  to  the  wishes  of  our  whole  community  did  we  not  perform  our  part, 
by  endeavoring,  by  every  means  in  our  power,  to  make  you  comfortable  and 
happy.     We  therefore  tender  you,  on  their  behalf,  a  most  cordial  welcome. 

Music  by  the  Band. 

His  Excellency,  Gov.  Chase,  of  Ohio,  was  then  introduced,  and  was 
warmly  received.     He  proceeded  to  address  the  assemblage  as  follows : 

When  I  had  the  gratification,  Mr.  Mayor,  of  welcoming  to  Ohio,  a  few 
weeks  since,  yourself  and  your  respected  associates  in  the  city  government  of 
Baltimore,  together  with  the  honored  President,  Directors  and  officers  of  your 
great  Pioneer  Railroad — which  is  Itself  the  grandest  among  the  splendid  monu- 
ments of  your  monumental  city — I  little  expected  to  find  myself  so  soon  in  your 
midst,  at  a  loss  for  language  to  express  in  my  own  behalf,  and  in  behalf,  I  am 
surs  I  may  add,  of  my  fellow-citizens  of  Ohio,  our  deep  sense  of  the  kindness 
and  courtesy  with  which  our  endeavors  to  prove  by  our  acts  the  cordiality  of 
our  welcome,  are  now  and  hero  so  signally  overpaid.     [Applause.] 

But  so  it  is.  Baltimore,  ever  nobly  unwilling  to  be  excelled  in  generous 
alms  and  deeds,  proves  to-day  that  she  cannot  be  overcome  in  a  contest  of  hos- 
pitality. And  the  kind  warmth  of  your  words  of  welcome,  emphasized  as  they 
are  by  the  approving  presence  of  this  vast  assemblage  of  your  fellow -citizens, 
and  illumined  as  they  are  by  tlie  beaming  smiles  of  lovely  ladies,  whose  beauty 
and  grace  crown  as  with  fair  Corinthian  capitals  the  splendid  structure  of  your 
city's  strength  and  power,  doubles  the  value  of  that  welcome  itself. 


68  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Prompted  by  your  invitation,  we  come  hither  to-day  from  the  great  cen- 
tral valley,  where  a  boundless  wilderness  for  more  than  half  a  century  has  been 
undergoing  the  process,  long  yet  to  be  continued,  of  transformation  into  popu- 
lous States,  to  rejoice  with  you  in  what  has  been  achieved,  and  to  anticipate 
with  you  the  vaster  achievements  of  the  future.     [Applause.] 

We,  in  Ohio,  have  some  special  reasons  for  sympathy  with  you  in  Maryland. 
It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  establishment  of  the  northern  boundary  of  Mary- 
land determined  on  one  side  the  boundary  of  Ohio.  The  famous  line  of  Mason 
and  Dixon  in  arks  at  its  western  extremity  the  beginning  point  of  the  due  north 
line  which  divides  Ohio  from  Pennsylvania.  And  it  is  another  curious  fact, 
not  much  thought  of,  and  yet  well  worth  thinking  of,  that  the  very  existence 
of  the  State  of  Ohio  and  her  sister  States  of  the  old  Northwest,  with  their  pres- 
ent dimensions  and  institutions,  is  due,  in  no  smaH  degree,  to  the  persistent 
determination  with  which  Maryland,  during  the  Revolutionary  straggle  and  at 
its  close,  insisted  that  the  vast  domain  west  of  the  Alleghanies  was,  in  fact,  and 
of  right  ought  to  be,  the  common  property  of  all  the  United  States,  and  not 
the  special  property  of  any  particular  State.  It  was  at  Cumberland,  in  Mary- 
land also,  that  the  great  national  road  began,  that  first  practical  conquest  of 
the  Alleghanies,  forever  identified  with  the  name  and  memory  of  the  patriot 
statesman  to  whom  his  grateful  countrymen  are  now  rearing  another  monu- 
ment amid  the  green  fields  of  his  beloved  Ashland.  [Great  applause.]  And 
now  you  have  made  us  your  neighbors,  and  invited  us  into  your  midst  by  the 
great  Railroad  over  which  we  have  come  hither. 

We  rejoice,  sir,  with  you  in  that  remarkable  career  of  civic  prosperity  which 
you  have  so  eloquently  depicted ;  and  we  earnestly  hope  that  all  you  antici- 
pate of  wealth,  prosperity,  and  honorable  distinction  in  the  future  of  the  city  of 
Baltimore,  may  be  more  than  realized.  We  gratefully  acknowledge  all  our 
debts,  ancient  and  modern,  to  the  State  of  Maryland.  We  remember,  with 
pride,  the  days  when  Maryland,  by  the  hands  of  Charles  Carroll,  of  CaiTollton, 
and  his  distinguished  associates,  subscribed  the  Declaration  of  Independence ; 
when,  in  the  fierce  straggle  which  followed,  Maryland,  in  the  heroes  of  the 
gallant  Maiyland  Line,  displayed  her  ardent  courage  and  noble  constancy  on 
the  battle-fields  of  the  Revolution ;  and  when,  after  the  war  was  over  and  the 
great  victory  secure,  she  assisted  by  her  Chase,  her  Paca,  and  her  ]\Iartin,  in 
framing  the  glorious  Constitution  which  still  constitutes — and  far  distant  bo 
the  dark  day  when  it  shall  not  constitute — our  bond  of  Union.  [Great  ap- 
plause.] 

Sir,  it  was  fit  that  the  most  splendid  monument  yet  reared  to  Washington, 
to  which  you  have  so  appropriately  referred,  should  rise  sublimely  in  the  midst 
of  a  city  penetrated  by  his  spirit.  [Hearty  applause.]  It  was  even  more  be- 
coming that  the  cherished  scheme  of  Washington  of  uniting  the  seaboard  to 
the  interior  by  a  system  of  roads  and  canals,  which  he  himself  sought  to  realize 


FIRST    SPEECH    OF    GOV.    CHASE,    OF    OHIO,    AT    BALTIMORE.        69 

as  President  of  the  old  Potomac  Company,  the  first  association  ever  organized 
for  any  such  purpose,  should  be  more  than  accomplished  through  the  mngnifi- 
cent  work  of  wliich  you  are  so  justly  proud — itself  a  monument,  and  the  grand- 
est of  all  monuments,  to  the  wisdom  and  patriotism  of  Washington.  [Loud 
applause.] 

It  is  not  for  me  to  speak  of  the  obstacles,  seemingly  insurmountable,  which 
have  been  overcome  by  the  State  of  Maryland,  and  the  city  of  Baltimore,  and 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  in  the  formation  of  their  first 
undertaking.  You  have  yourself  happily  indicated  them.  But  I  may,  perhaps, 
be  permitted  to  say  that  in  my  judgment  the  conquest  of  the  financial  difficul- 
ties of  the  enterprise  was  an  achievement  no  less  splendid  than  the  triumph 
over  the  vast  obstacles  which  nature  offered  to  its  success.  And  I  tnist  I  shall 
not  be  thought  to  overstep  the  proprieties  of  this  occasion,  if  I  add  that  the 
unshrinking  fortitude  and  manly  faith  with  which  your  noble  State  has  assumed 
and  sustained  the  enormous  burden  of  pecuniary  liabilities  growing  out  of  this 
great  undertaking  and  her  other  works  of  improvements,  is  not  the  least  among 
her  many  titles  to  admiration  and  honor.     [Great  applause.] 

No  one,  Mr.  Mayor,  who  thinks  at  all  of  the  westward  progress  already 
achieved  by  the  railroads  which  form  this  American  Central  Line,  can  help 
anticipating  the  time  when  it  shall  reach  the  Pacific.  How  many  years  ago 
was  it  that  Oliver  Evans  declared  that  the  child  was  already  born  who  would 
go  from  Baltimore  to  Boston  in  twenty-four  hours  ?  Many  then  thought  him 
crazy.  He  only  thought  himself  bold.  But  hit*  anticipation  lagged  far  behind 
the  reality.  As  I  was  borne  along,  day  before  yesterday,  from  our  State  Capi- 
tol to  this  city,  in  twenty-two  hours,  over  great  rivers  and  lofty  mountains, 
through  winding  vaUeys,  intensely  interested  in  the  bold  and  picturesque 
scenery  which  clianged  before  me  like  a  kaleidoscope,  and  watching  the  line 
of  the  track,  wet  with  recent  rains,  and  glistening  in  the  light  of  the  descend- 
ing sun  as  it  sti-etcbed  away  and  aw.-iy,  farther  and  fiirtlier,  towards  tlie  Western 
horizon,  I  thought  of  Oliver  Evans,  and  wondered  Jiow  old  is  now  the  man  who 
shall  yet  go  from  Baltimore  to  San  Francisco  in  five  days  by  rail  ?  Perhaps 
it  was  a  little  presumptuous,  but  I  did  actually  fancy  myself  hurled  along,  with 
shriek,  and  puff  and  clatter,  through  the  defiles  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  across 
the  plains  of  the  Great  Basin,  under  or  over  the  rugged  summits  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  until  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco  flung  back  under  my  eye  the  glances 
of  the  sun.  I  hope,  Mr.  Mayor,  I  shall  have  tlie  pleasure  of  meeting  you  at 
the  celebration  of  the  opening  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  road,  to  which  I  trust 
the  people  of  California  will  invite  us  all.     [Applause,] 

You  have  spoken  eloquently.  Sir,  of  railroads  as  bonds  of  union,  and  your 
observations  wore  as  just  as  they  were  eloquent.  No  man  conversant  with 
railroads  can  be  a  disunionist.  [Prolonged  applause.]  The  social  intercourse 
which  they  foster,  the  ties  of  business  which  they  create,  the  mutual  depend- 


70  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

ence  which  they  establish  and  exhibit,  mate  disunion  impossible.  There  must, 
of  course,  be  differences  of  opinion  on  some  points.  Real  grievances  may  from 
time  to  time  demand  redress.  But  there  is  no  evil  of  which  disunion  is  the 
proper  cure.  [Renewed  applause.]  And  the  more  we  see  of  each  other  tlie 
less  likely  shall  we  be  to  commit  the  error  of  thinking  otherwise.  The  fact  is, 
that  we  who  live  along  the  line  of  the  American  Central  Railway  don't  mean 
to  let  this  Union  be  broken  up.  [Applause.]  Marj'land  will  not  consent  to  it, 
I  think.  I  trust  Virginia  will  not.  Ohio,  I  am  sure,  will  not.  Nor  Indiana, 
or  Illinois,  or  Missouri.  Who,  then,  will  ?  No,  Sir.  We  may  differ  hence- 
forth, as  we  have  differed  heretofore.  We  will  maintain  our  respective  opinions 
and  positions  with  candor,  courtesy,  firmness,  and  resolution.  And  we  will 
refer  whatever  question  may  be  between  us,  to  the  great  American  tribunal  of 
popular  discussion  and  popular  judgment.  But  in  the  time  to  come  as  in  the 
time  past  we  cleave  to  the  Union  as  our  ark  of  refuge,  and,  under  God,  our 
surest  guaranty  of  prosperity  and  power,  and  abiding  glory.  [Hearty  and 
continued  applause.] 

But  I  have  detained  you  too  long.  Other  gentlemen,  representing  the 
cities  whom  Baltimore  welccynes  here  to-day,  await  an  opportunity  of  express- 
ing their  acknowledgments  of  your  courtesy.  Thanking  you,  and  the  authori- 
ties and  citizens  (so  fitly  represented  by  the  Chairman  of  their  Committee,) 
you  so  worthily  represent,  again  and  again,  for  these  magnificent  acts  of  hospi- 
tality, I  beg  you  to  rest  assured  that  Ohio,  on  her  part,  will  ever  keep  bright 
the  friendly  bonds  into  which  she  enters  with  you  to-day. 

The  beautiful  speech  of  Governor  Chase  elicited  a  marked  interest 
from  all  his  hearers,  who  frequently  interrupted  him  as  he  proceeded, 
by  their  very  hearty  and  generally  well-timed  applause. 

Music  by  the  band.     Mayor  Swann  then  spoke  as  follows : 

We  have  to  regret — and  most  sincerely  regret — on  this  occasion,  the  ab- 
sence of  the  Mayor  of  Cincinnati.  But  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  there  is 
a  gentleman  present  who  worthily  represents  him.  I  have  the  pleasure  now  to 
introduce  to  you  Judge  Pruden,  of  Cincinnati,  who  represents  the  Mayor  of 
that  city. 

Judge  Pruden  responded  as  follows : 

On  behalf  of  the  citizens  whom  you  have  so  cordially  welcomed  here  to-day, 
I  wish  to  assure  vou,  Mr.  Mayor  and  citizens  of  Baltimore,  that  this  kindness 
is  fully  appreciated  upon  the  part  of  Cincinnati,  and  will  be  remembered  by 
her  citizens  to  the  latest  period  of  their  lives.  Not  expecting,  however,  to  be 
called  upon  here,  to-day,  and  feeling  quite  fatigued  and  somewhat  indisposed, 
I  will  not  detain  you  by  any  further  remarks  of  mine. 


RESPONSIVE    SPEECHES    FOR    CINCINNATI  AND    ST.    LOUIS.  71 

Music  by  the  band.  Mayor  Swann  then  introduced  Mr.  Taylor, 
President  of  the  City  Council  of  St.  Louis,  in  the  following  remarks : 

Gentlemen :  I  have  the  pleasure  to  introduce  to  you  now  the  representative 
of  that  far  oflf  city  in  the  West,  to  which  we  have  but  recently  made  a  visit,  and 
the  recollection  of  whose  hospitalities  is  still  fresh  in  the  minds  of  you  all.  I 
introduce  to  you,  Mr.  George  R.  Taylor,  who  represents  the  corporate  authori- 
ties of  St.  Louis. 

Mi:.  Taylor  responded — as  soon  as  the  general  applause  with  which 
his  rising  was  welcomed  had  subsided — as  follows  : 

Mr.  Mayor,  and  you,  the  corporate  authorities  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  and 
to  you,  gentlemen,  last,  though  not  least,  who  have  so  kindly  conveyed  us  over 
your  stupendous  and  magnificent  iron  artery,  that  finds  its  way  towards  the 
Belle  of  rivers  and  the  mighty  Father  of  waters,  to  you  and  through  you  to  the 
citizens  of  Baltimore,  I  beg  leave  to  return,  in  the  name  and  on  behalf  of  the 
corporate  authorities  and  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  our  most  hearty  and  cordial 
thanks  for  the  reception  you  have  given  us  to-day. 

It  is  with  the  most  profound  regret,  which  I  am  sure  is  felt  by  the  guests  of 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  coming  from  the  far  distant  State  of  Missouri,  that  I  find 
myself  under  the  necessity  of  stating  to  you  that  we  must  deplore  the  absence  of 
the  Executive  of  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  We  believe,  in  sincerity  and  truth,  that 
you  would  have  received  him,  as  we  strove  to  receive  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  when 
you  were  the  guest  of  our  beaiitiful,  though  far  distant  city. 

I  come  to  your  city  at  the  bidding  of  the  lightning,  which  reached  me 
most  unexpectedly  from  the  President  of  that  stupendous  enterprise,  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Roilroad.  I  come  here  upon  a  formal  invitation,  sent  me  to 
St.  Louis,  over  the  wires  of  the  lightning,  and  I  now  appear  before  you,  as  the 
representative  of  St.  Louis,  in  her  corporate  capacity,  having  the  honor  of  fill- 
ing the  office  of  the  President  of  the  City  Council  of  St.  Louis. 

I  came  here  with  no  set  speech,  and  charged  with  no  particular  duty.  I 
am  now  fulfilling  a  duty,  feebly  I  confess,  though  one  of  infinite  pleasure,  which 
has  been  devolved  upon  me  by  the  body  over  which  I  have  the  honor  of  pre- 
siding, who  have  called  upon  me,  in  the  absence  of  their  Executive,  to  be  their 
exponent. 

And  now,  Mr.  Mayor,  in  reference  to  the  most  kind,  cordial  and  eloquent 
welcome  which  you  have  given  us,  couched  In  language  most  choice  and  select, 
I  do  again  profoundly  thank  you,  not  only  for  the  demonstration  which  your 
citizens  have  made,  in  the  gala  day  which  now  is  exhibited  iu  the  city  of  Balti- 
more, but  for  the  hearty  welcome  which  you  of  Baltimore  have  given  us, 
hailing  as  we  do  from  beyond  the  banks  of  the  great  Mississippi.     [Cheers.] 

I  have  no  intention,  Mr.  i\Iayor,  even  if  1  were  capable,  of  going  into  a 


72  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES   TO    THE    EAST. 

historical  description  of  the  settlement  of  the  territory  that  I  have  now  the 
honor  to  represent.  I  do  not  intend  to  speak  of  that  great  iron  artery  that 
binds  Baltimore  to  what  we  conceive  to  be  the  most  free,  the  most  wholesome 
city  that  stands  upon  the  soil  of  our  glorious  confederacy.  I  do  not  intend  to 
speak  of  the  golden  sands  of  California,  nor  of  the  lands  bordering  upon  the 
Atlantic.  We  occupy  a  middle  position,  and  may  well  say  that  in  a  national 
point  of  view,  "  we  are  monarchs  of  aU  we  survey."  We  have  no  fears  of  the 
dissolution  of  the  Uuion.  [Applause.]  Sectionalism,  the  result  of  the  depraved 
minds  of  men;  the  dark,  the  cold,  the  callous  heart  of  sectionalism,  may  dis- 
turb the  peace  of  this  confederacy,  but  never  will  the  word  "  disunion "  be 
written  in  legible  characters  in  the  history  of  the  land.  [Cheers  and  applause.] 
There  is  a  power  known  to  you ;  there  is  a  power  of  which  you  have  most  elo- 
quently spoken,  Mr.  Mayor,  which  is  now  growing  into  manhood,  and  ripening 
into  mature  age.  That  power  is  in  the  centre  of  this  great  American  republic, 
and  when  the  North  and  South,  and  the  East  upon  the  Atlantic,  and  the  West 
upon  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  shall  rise  up  in  revolution,  and  strive  to  tear  in 
pieces  that  glorious  Constitution,  which  has  been  handed  down  to  us  from  our 
fathers,  the  preat  central  power  of  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  will  rise  in  its 
might,  and  proclaim  in  tones  that  shall  be  heard  to  the  farthest  limits  of  this 
great  republic,  "  peace,  be  stiU."  We,  of  St.  Louis,  do  not  mean  that  you  here 
shall  disrupt  this  Union,  even  if  you  would.  We  scorn  to  believe  that  you 
would  do  so.  It  is  but  a  few  days  since  we  extended  to  you  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship,  and  we  have  already  seen  enough  of  you  to  prove  that  you  are  most 
worthy.     [Applause.] 

The  city  of  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  the  whole  State  of  Missouri,  was,  at 
the  time  to  which  you  have  referred  as  being  an  era  in  the  history  of  the  city 
of  Baltimore,  subject  to  a  foreign  potentate,  was  the  possession  of  a  foreign 
power,  and  no  part  or  parcel  of  this  confederacy.  In  1803,  as  you  all  well 
know,  it  was  acquired  by  purchase,  under  the  administration  of  Thomas  JefiFer- 
son.  Since  then  its  history  is  known  to  you,  and  to  every  man  within  the 
sound  of  my  voice.  But  there  is  one  thing  which,  perhaps,  is  not  known  to 
you,  and  permit  me  to  say,  as  the  representative  of  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  that 
there  is  a  more  practical  and  direct  similarity  between  the  people  of  Baltimore 
and  the  people  of  St.  Louis,  than  between  the  people  of  any  other  two  of  the 
principal  cities  of  this  great  confederacy.  1  am  still  young,  yet  I  am  old 
enough  to  know  and  understand  the  difficulties  that  beset  the  undertaking  of 
the  enterprise  of  which  the  gentleman  ou  ray  right  here  is  the  president.  The 
commencement  of  this  great  work  dates  back  almost  as  many  years  as  I  have 
numbered.  And  if  you,  gentlemen,  who  have  accomplished  some  of  the  great- 
est feats  in  railroad  engineering  known  to  the  world,  could  then  have  looked 
forward  and  perceived  the  difBculties  wliich  you  have  since  encountered  and 
surmounted,  I  am  very  apprehensive  that  even  you  would  have  shrunk  from 


SPEECH  OF  GEORGE  R.  TAYLOR,  ON  BEHALF  OF  ST.  LOUIS.  73 

the  responsible  and  arduous  task.  From  six  to  eight  millions  of  dollars  were 
subscribed  and  guaranteed  by  the  city  of  Baltimore  to  this  work.  Without 
any  foreign  aid,  either  Southern  or  Northern,  with  no  vast  area  of  land  donated 
by  the  General  Gcvernmeut,  with  no  sectionalism  to  assist  you  in  building  up 
this  great  artery,  you  put  your  ovm  shoulders  to  the  wheel,  and  have  acconi- 
phshed,  in  the  period  of  twenty-five  j'ears,  what  would  never  have  been  accom- 
plished by  any  but  a  st  If- relying  and  energetic  people. 

The  citizens  of  St.  I.ouis  partake  of  the  same  character.  We  have  no 
Northern  friends  to  build  great  iron  roads  leading  to  our  city.  We  have  no 
public  lands  donated  to  us  by  Congress.  We  have  but  a  mere  moiety  of  lands, 
and  those  are  not  now  available.  We  have  no  friends  from  abroad  to  assist  us 
in  making  connections  with  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  with  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  or 
the  Northern  Lakes.  We  have  been  necessitated,  as  you  have,  to  rely  upon 
our  own  unaided  efforts.  Yet  the  city  of  St  Louis,  in  her  corporate  capacity, 
has  already  subscribed  three  milhons  of  dollars  to  building  the  iron  roads  of 
commerce  that  stretch  from  her  to  the  East.  And  when  the  great  iron 
artery  that  stretches  from  this  beautiful  and  tranquil  bay  to  the  banks  of 
the  Father  of  Waters,  a  thousand  miles  distant  from  here,  when  that,  or  any 
other  road,  shall  be  continued  to  the  shores  of  the  far-off  Pacific,  and  when  his 
Excellency,  the  Governor  of  Ohio,  and  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  shall  be  invited  to  San 
Francisco  to  celebrate  its  opening,  I  trust  you  will  stop  in  St.  Louis  to  meet 
the  welcome  which  will  be  cordially  tendered  you.     [Cheers  and  applause.] 

It  is  due  to  the  people  that  I  represent ;  it  is  due  to  the  travel-stained  and 
weary  individuals  who  have  come  on  here  at  your  invitation,  to  say  that  under 
their  dusty  ganments  beat  as  warm,  as  generous,  and  as  loving  hearts  as  ever 
beat  under  broadcloth  and  satin.  [Cheers.]  We  have  come  on  here  at  your 
bidding ;  not  in  files,  but  in  squadrons,  bringing  with  us  our  wives,  our  sons, 
and  our  daughters.  And,  Mr.  Mayor,  who  can  tell  what  is  in  the  future  ? 
How  know  you,  but  what  the  ties  of  friendship,  and  affection,  and  love,  that 
may  be  the  consequence  of  this  visit,  may  give  us  of  St.  Louis  a  Mayor  who, 
years  hence,  will  welcome  your  children  with  as  warm  and  hearty  greeting  as 
we  have  met  here  to-day  ?     [Renewed  applause.  ] 

We  are  told,  upon  excellent  authority,  that  the  children  of  Israel  wandered 
in  the  wilderness  for  forty  years,  and  when  the\-  came  Ln  sight  of  the  promised 
land  they  turned  back  again.  The  people  whom  I  have  the  honor  to  repre- 
sent here,  have  had  their  trials  and  tribulations.  But  when  they  came  within 
sight  of  the  promised  land,  they  did  not,  lilce  the  children  of  Israel,  turn  back 
again,  but  are  here.  [Applause.]  And  we  are  unhke  the  ancient  Israelites 
in  another  respect.  They  wandered  in  the  wilderness  for  forty  years.  But 
those  wann-heiirted  sons  and  daughters  of  Missouri  have  travelled  over  more 
territory  in  two  days  and  three  nights  than  did  the  children  of  Israel  in  all 
those  forty  years.  [^Continued  applause.J 
4 


74  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

And  I  beg  here  to  assure  you,  on  the  part  of  those  I  represent  here,  that  we 
believe  that  the  welcome  you  have  given  us  to-day  is  but  a  representation  of 
the  motto  inscribed  upon  the  flags  I  see  suspended  over  us  :  "  Friendship,  Love 
and  Truth ;"  and  we  receive  it  in  the  same  spirit  of  love  and  appreciation  with 
which  it  has  been  so  eloquently  and  earnestly  extended  to  us. 

Music  by  the  band.  His  Honor,  Mayor  Swann,  then  arose  and 
said: 

Gentlemen,  the  last  city,  whose  representative  I  have  the  honor  to  present  to 
you,  is  so  near  our  Western  borders,  that  I  had  almost  considered  her  represen- 
tatives as  members  of  our  own  family,  and  was  going  to  let  her  go  up  here, 
and,  through  her  representation,  speak  for  herself  without  any  introduction. 
[Applause  and  cheers.  ]  I,  however,  take  pleasure  in  introducing  to  you,  Mr. 
Adams,  the  Mayor  of  Chillicothe. 

Mayor  Goward  Adams  then  advanced,  and  was  most  heartily  re- 
ceived.    He  said : 

I  thank  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  citizens  of  Baltimore,  for  the  kind  and  cordial 
welcome  you  have  extended  to  us  of  Chillicothe  to-day,  and  assure  you  that  we 
reciprocate  it  from  our  inmost  hearts.  Until  recently  we  were  separated  from 
you  by  high  mountains,  deep  valleys,  and  wide  rivers.  But  your  skill  and 
energy  have  levelled  the  mountains,  filled  the  valleys,  and  crossed  the  rivers, 
until  now  we  are  near  neighbors.  I  again  thank  you  for  your  welcome ;  I 
trust  this  may  be  auspicious  of  our  future  intercourse  and  kindly  relations  to 
each  other.     [Earnest  applause.] 

Music  by  the  band.     jNIayor  Swann  then  said : 

There  is  a  gentleman  present,  distinguished  in  the  Councils  of  Cincinnati, 
whom  we  are  exceedingly  anxious  to  hear  upon  this  occasion.  I  therefore  take 
pleasure  in  introducing  to  you — and  trust  the  guest  will  respond  to  the  call 
made  upon  him — Mr.  Benj.  Eggieston,  of  Cincinnati. 

Mr  Eggieston,  who  was  most  heartily  received,  came  forward  and 
said : 

Mr.  Mayor:  At  the  request  of  the  City  Council  of  Cincinnati,  of  wbich 
body  I  am  a  member,  I  now  appear  before  you  to  return  you  my  warmest 
thanks  for  your  kind  invitation  to  visit  this  city.  When  we  received  your  invi- 
tation we  immediately  responded  to  it  by  accepting  it  through  the  unanimous 
vote  of  the  body  of  which  I  am  a  member,  and  I  regret  very  much  that 
our  worthy  executive  is  not  here  to-day,  to  respond  in  my  place. 

We  are  indebted  not  only  for  your  kind  invitation,  but  for  the  kindness  of 
the  President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  who  sent  the  iron 
horse  and  the  commodious  rail  carriage  to  meet  us  at  the  borders  of  our  State 


FURTHER    SPEECHES THE    GUESTS    ARE    LOCATED.  io 

and  which  brought  us  so  safely  and  pleasantly  to  this  great  city  of  Baltimore. 
All  along  the  route  we  have  been  most  kindly  received  and  hospitably  enter- 
tained. We  have  been  carried  down  the  valleys  and  up  the  hills — aye,  and 
through  the  mountains ;  and  when  we  arrived  here  you  have  met  us,  and 
without  allowing  us  time  to  remove  the  dirt  from  om*  clothes,  have  carried  us 
in  triumph  through  the  streets  of  your  beautiful  city. 

And  allow  me  to  say  that  you  have  the  heartfelt  wishes  of  Cincinnati  for  tho 
success  of  the  enterprise,  in  the  promotion  of  which  yon  have  so  earnestly  and 
faithfully  labored ;  and  I  must  express  the  wish  and  the  belief  that  the  trade 
of  Southern  Ohio  must  come  to  your  city.  I  hope  your  fondest  anticipations 
may  be  fully  realized. 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings.  Mayor  Swann  announced  that  the 
ceremonies  of  the  reception  at  the  Maryland  Institute  were  concluded, 
and  that  a  grand  display  of  fireworks,  in  honor  of  the  city's  guests, 
would  be  given  at  Battle  Monument  Square  at  night.  The  guests 
were  then  reconducted  to  the  carriages  in  waiting,  and  conveyed  to 
Barnum's  Hotel,  the  Eutaw  House,  Gilmor  House,  and  other  hotels, 
where  superior  accommodations  had  been  provided  for  them  by  the 
city  authorities. 

During  the  afternoon  of  Saturday  many  of  the  visitors  availed 
themselves  of  the  carriages  which  were  placed  at  their  disposal,  and  paid 
a  rapid  successive  visit  to  many  of  the  objects  of  interest  in  and  around 
Baltimore,  wliilst  others,  accompanied  by  Baltimore  friends,  made  calls 
upon  acquaintances.  Late  in  the  afternoon  a  mammoth  balloon  was 
sent  up  from  the  square  opposite  the  HoUiday  Street  Theatre,  by  Mr. 
Basil  Moxley,  connected  with  that  establishment,  which  was  witnessed 
with  infinite  pleasure  by  many  of  the  visitors. 

"J"he  various  Committees  to  whom  the  arrangements  were  intrusted 
acted  energetically  and  with  unanimity  in  discharging  their  duties, 
and  deserve  especial  credit  fur  much  of  the  success  that  the  demon- 
stration attained.    We  again  record  here  a  full  list  of  these  Committees : 

CITY    COUNCIL    COMMITTEES, 

Committee  of  Arrangement. — Mayor  Swann,  ex-ofBcio  Chairman — 
First  Branch. — Jos.  H.  Hynes,  John  T.  Ford,  F.  H.  B.  Boyd.  Second 
Branch. — Samuel  Kirk,  Geo.  W.  Herring,  Lemuel  Bierbower. 

Committee  of  Eeceptio)t. — Messrs.  Kirk,  Ford  and  Hynes. 

Committee  on  Fireworls. — Messrs.  Ford,  Boyd  and  Herring. 

Committee  on  Carriages. — Messrs.  Crowley  and  Daiger. 


76  EXCUBSION    OP    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Committee  on  Halls. — Messrs.  Forest,  Wilson  and  Tidy. 
Committee  to  assign  Ciiests  posts  in  Line. — Messrs.  Crowley,  Nails, 
Carroll,  JNIuller,  Gordon  and  Sullivan. 

citizens'    COMMITTEES. 

Executive  Committee. — William  J.  Albert,  Charles  M.  Keyser,  Dr. 
H.  Willis  Baxley. 

Committee  of  Reception. — S.  Owings  Hoffman,  W.  Pinckney  Whyte, 
Hon.  J.  Morrison  Harris,  B.  H.  Richardson,  A.  S.  Abell,  Robert  A. 
Dobbin,  George  P.  Kane,  Hon.  Anthony  Kennedy,  Moore  N.  Falls, 
William  H.  Graham,  C.  C.  Jamison,  William  H.  Young,  William  T. 
Walters,  William  Chesnut,  Galloway  Cheston. 

Finance  Committee. — Laurence  Thompson,  Joseph  Rieman,  J.  J- 
Turner,  H.  M.  Warfield.  Charles  D.  Slingluff^  A.  A.  Chapman,  Dr.  J. 
Hanson  Thomas,  J.  Hall  Pleasants,  C.  Oliver  O'Donnell,  William  F. 
Murdoch,  William  E.  Mayhew,  Jr.,  Z.  Collins  Lee,  William  Gilmor 
Meredith,  William  Devries,  William  H.  Brune. 

Board  of  Trade  Committee. — Laurence  Thompson,  Joseph  H.  Rei- 
man,  Henry  M.  Warfield,  Wm.  Gilmor,  A.  A.  Chapman,  Dr.  J.  Hanson 
Thomas,  J.  Hall  Pleasants,  C.  Oliver  O'Donnell,  Win.  F.  Murdoch, 
Wm.  E.  Mayhew,  Jr.,  Z.  Collins  Lee,  0.  D.  Slingluff,  Wm.  Gilmor 
Meredith,  Wm.  Devries,  J.  J.  Turner. 

Committee  on  Part  of  Railroad  Company. — Messrs.  Joshua  Van- 
sant,  John  W.  Garrett  and  Robert  Turner,  Directors. 

The  announcement  that  the  corporate  authorities  designed  present- 
ing a  grand  exhibition  of  fireworks  at  the  Battle  Monument  Square, 
in  honor  of  the  visitors,  attracted  there  one  of  the  most  immense  out- 
pourings of  the  people  ever  witnessed  in  Baltimore,  a  very  large  propor- 
tion of  whom  were  ladies.  It  had  been  previously  arranged  that  sig- 
nal rockets  would  be  thrown  up  from  Patterson's  Park,  Federal  Hill, 
and  Lafayette,  Franklin  and  Madison  Squares.  At  eight  o'clock,  a 
number  of  these  were  let  off  in  the  Square  from  Court  House  yard, 
and  although  it  was  scarcely  dark,  they  were  seen  from  all  parts  of 
the  cit}',  and  soon  tliereafter  the  avenues  of  approach  to  the  square 
were  filled  with  continuous  crowds  of  persons,  eagerlj'^  wending  their 
way  along,  and  helping  to  swell  the  great  assemblage.  So  multitudinous 
was  the  crowd  that  it  was  impossible  for  one  to  thread  his  way 
through.  It  extended  from  Baltimore  Street  to  Saratoga — three 
blocks — whilst  Lexington    and   Fayette   Streets  were    also   densely 


THE    GRAND    FIREWORKS    AT    BALTIMORE.  77 

I^acked — all  the  buildings  fronting  upon  the  square  were  also  crowded, 
whilst  the  balconies  of  Barnum's  Hotel  and  the  Gilmor  House  gave 
fine  accommodations  for  the  guests,  if  not  to  see  all  the  display,  at 
least  to  view  the  crowd  and  listen  to  the  music.  In  the  balconies  of 
the  latter  establishment  were  placed  Captain  Mentor's  cornet  band,  of 
Cincinnati,  and  the  Independent  Blues'  band,  of  Baltimore,  which  al- 
ternately performed  a  large  number  of  selections,  comprising  the 
nati(mal  airs,  and  other  appropriate  music.  In  the  course  of  half  an 
hour,  after  the  first  rocket  was  fired,  it  was  estimated  that  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  thousand  persons  were  gathered  mthin  the  square,  whilst 
the  windows,  doors  and  house-tops  of  the  surrounding  residences  were 
occupied  by  the  inmates  and  others.  Eligible  positions  were  at  a 
premium,  and  apartments  presenting  a  good  view  were  sought  after 
and  struggled  for  like  the  highest  seats  at  a  sensation  concert. 

Meanwhile  the  rockets  continued  to  ascend  in  rapid  succession, 
and  to  a  great  altitude,  bowing  the  heavens  with  a  brilliancy  which 
put  the  stars  to  a  temporary  dimness,  each  eliciting  from  the  crowd 
of  upturned  faces  a  buzz  of  admiration  as  it  shot  upwaids  through  a 
column  of  sparks,  and  disappeared  with  a  faint  report  in  the  upper  air. 
A'olleys  of  Roman  candles  continued  to  discharge  their  pulps  of  flame, 
whilst  now  and  then  a  volcano  would  fling  into  the  air  its  fountain  of 
fire-balls,  and  explode  with  a  deep  report,  throwing  a  spray  of  fire 
and  distributing  its  balls  of  flame  among  the  swa^-ing  throngs,  whose 
faces  suddenly  lit  up  by  the  white  light,  exhibited  the  adniiration  and 
delight  which  pervaded  them. 

At  a  quarter  past  eight  o'clock,  all  things  being  in  readiness  and 
the  crowd  anxious,  the  first  piece,  a  magic  wheel,  was  set  otf,  under 
the  direction  of  John  and  Joseph  Bond.  The  wheel  (about  three  feet 
in  diameter)  burst  out  in  blue  flame,  and  revolving  in  opposite  direc- 
tions, ended  in  a  variety  of  strange  and  unexpected  transformations. 
This  was  exceedingly  beautiful,  and  evidently  prepared  the  crowd  for 
something  better,  as  they  cheered  vociferously. 

After  music,  and  the  discharge  of  a  number  of  rockets  and  Roman 
candles,  the  second  piece,  a  Chinese  sun,  was  ignited.  This  commenced 
in  a  number  of  spangled  points,  and  spinning  with  great  rapidity,  in  a 
moment  revolved  itself  into  a  circle  of  stars  in  green  and  l)lue  llame. 
The  spectators  were  left  to  contemplate  for  the  space  of  a  minute 
nearly,  when  it  dropped  away,  and  the  third  representation,  an  Egyp- 
tian Pyramid,  followed.  This  began  in  a  revolving  wheel,  and  ended 
in  a  conical  flaming  outUne  of  the  pj'ramid,  the  summit  of  which  wast- 


/  8  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTUORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

ed  itself  away  in  explosions,  accompanied  with  loud  reports.  The 
fourth  display  was  a  magic  scroll,  with  circle  revolving  within  circle, 
exhibiting  a  complicity  of  invention  which  fully  sustained  the  idea 
conveyed  by  its  appellation.  The  fifth  representation  was  Saturn  and 
Satelhtes.  The  planet  Saturn  was  represented  in  a  ring  of  flame  en- 
circled by  starry  rosettes  of  fire. 

The  sixth  representation  was  the  grand  feature  of  the  evening 
• — complimentary  to  the  Western  guests,—  and  concluded  the  exhibi- 
tion. All  at  once,  amid  the  ascension  of  rockets,  the  music  of  the 
bands,  and  the  cheering  of  thousands,  the  fuses  were  touched  and  the 
words,  'Welcome  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  Chillicothe,"  sprung  out  of 
darkness  in  sentences  of  fire,  with  a  star  at  each  extremity,  whilst 
above  glowed  a  facsimile  in  fire  of  the  honored  battle-monument  of 
Baltimore,  with  the  flaming  words,  "September  12, 1814."  For  a  mo- 
ment the  thousands  stood  silent,  contemplating  the  sentiments  of 
friendship  and  patriotism  before  them ;  but  as  the  scene  began  to  fade 
the  cheering  became  tremendous,  as  though  to  prolong  the  sight.  But 
gradually  the  words  of  welcome  to  the  cities  died  out  with  the  letters, 
and  the  monument  of  flame  crumbled  from  its  height,  but  only  to  en- 
grave the  sentiment  of  welcome  on  the  thousands  of  hearts  who  wit- 
nessed it,  and  to  reveal  the  real  monument  in  marble  close  upon  the 
scene  of  its  representation  in  fire. 

The  immense  throng  then  dispersed.  No  casualty  of  any  descrip- 
tion occurred.  But  one  rocket  discharged  took  a  wrong  direction,  and 
that  struck  harmlessly  upon  the  roof  of  a  dwelling  in  Lexingtop 
Street.  A  ball  of  fire  from  a  bomb  entered  the  doorway  of  a  dwelling 
on  the  Square,  and  a  child's  clothing  was  set  on  fire  in  consequence. 

After  the  dispersion  of  the  main  throng,  an  assembly  numbering 
nearly  a  thousand  persons,  stationed  themselves  in  front  of  Barnum's 
Hotel,  and  wanted  some  one  to  make  a  speech  to  them.  Loud  calls 
were  made  for  Governor  Chase,  of  Ohio,  who  not  responding,  one  or 
two  gentlemen  present  spoke  briefly,  when  the  audience  retired. 
During  the  remainder  of  the  evening  the  Independent  Blues'  band 
occupied  one  of  the  apartments  at  Barnum's  Hotel,  and  j^erformed  a 
selection  of  pieces. 

After  the  conclusion  of  the  fireworks,  a  considerable  number  of 
the  guests,  headed  b)f  several  oflBcers  of  the  Corporation  of  Baltimore 
proceeded  to  the  residences  of  Dr.  Woodside  and  W.  P.  Smith,  (officers 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.)  and  of  lion.  Thomas  Swann  and 
S.  Owings  Iloirman,  as  well  as  to  other  residences  of  prominent  citi- 


SERENADES — SUNDAY FORT    M'-IIENRY.  79 

zens,  and  with  the  visiting  bands,  gave  them  handsome  serenades. 
At  several  places  handsome  collations  were  provided,  and  the  visitors 
doubtless  soon  felt  them-elves  as  welcome  and  as  agreeable  as  if  they  had 
been  in  their  own  homes.  This  was  a  very  happy  feature  of  the  visit. 
On  Sunday,  nearly  all  the  ladies,  and  a  number  of  the  gentlemen 
composing  the  excursion  party,  attended  Divine  worship  at  the  various 
churches.  At  the  special  invitation  of  Captain  Joseph  P.  Warner,  of 
the  Baltimore  City  Guards,  and  Major  Johannes,  a  number  of  the 
guests  visited  the  Brooklyn  House,  at  Spring  Gardens,  when  a  most 
agreeable  day  was  spent — they  partaking  of  a  dinner  of  soft  crabs  and 
tish  prepared  expressly  for  the  occasion.  Another  party,  principally 
Chillicotheans,  made  a  visit  to  the  City  Jail,  accompanied  by  several 
members  of  the  City  Council,  and  were  hospitably  received  by  Cap- 
tain Thomas  C.  James,  the  gentlemanly  warden,  who  kindly  escorted 
them  through  the  old  prison,  and  allowed  them  to  inspect  the  work  as 
far  as  done  on  the  splendid  new  building.  After  viewing  all  in  this 
locality,  the  company'  returned  to  tlie  residence  of  the  Warden,  where 
a  substantial  dinner  awaited  them. 

Shortly  after  nine  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  the  delegation  from 
St.  Louis  marched  from  their  quarters  at  Barnum's  Hotel,  headed  by 
their  fine  band,  and  being  joined  by  the  Cincinnatians,  from  the 
Eutaw,  the  Chillicotheans,  and  the  City  Council  of  Baltimore,  proceeded 
to  the  steamer  Lancaster,  at  Light  Street  Wharf.  As  soon  as  the  party 
were  all  on  board,  the  boat  cast  loose  and  rapidly  steamed  off,  show- 
ing our  W^estern  visitors  a  harbor  most  excellently  located,  and  sufB- 
ciently  commodious  to  float  the  half  of  the  ships  that  bear  our 
country's  Hag.  A  few  minutes  after  ten  o'clock,  the  Lancaster  reached 
the  wharf  at  Fort  ^IcHenrj-,  and  the  five  hundred  passengers  on  board 
of  her  disembarked  as  rapidly  as  possible.  On  landing,  the  party 
found  a  large  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  who  had  gone  down  in 
carriages.  Among  them  were  Governor  Chase,  Colonels  M'Millan  and 
Carrington,  Mayor  Swann,  and  others.  The  eminent  American  trage- 
dian, Edwin  Forrest,  who  happened  to  be  in  the  city  on  his  way  to  the 
Virginia  Springs,  was  also  present,  having  been  driven  down  by  his  friend, 
William  E.  Bartlett,  of  Baltimore,  in  his  private  carriage.  The  visitors, 
many  of  whom  were  ladies,  accompanying  the  excursionists,  were  soon 
dispersed  throughout  the  fortification,  all  seeking  the  most  eligible 
situations  from  which  they  could  view  the  expected  drill  of  the  United 
States  Flying  Artillery.      The  ramparts  presented  quite  a  diflerent 


80  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

aspect  from  that  prevailing  at  the  time  the  Baltimore  poet  composed 
"  The  Star-Spangled  Banner."  Then  they  bristled  with  the  "  dogs  of 
war,"  but  on  this  happy  occasion  they  also  sparkled  with  the  bright 
eyes  of  hundreds  of  the  fair  ladies  of  the  West,  with  a  quota  of  Balti- 
more beauty.  Company  K,  of  the  First  Regiment  Light  Artillery, 
Lieutenants  Gillan  and  Cooper,  and  Company  A,  of  the  Second  Eegi- 
ment  Light  Artillery,  Lieutenants  Lamed  and  Mullin,  never  appeared 
to  better  advantage,  and  the  able  manner  in  which  they  performed  the 
many  diflBcult  evolutions  was  the  theme  of  praise  on  each  of  the  thou- 
sand lips  present.  At  one  moment  in  one  quarter  of  the  field,  and  at 
the  next  in  another  and  distant  one,  all  in  regular  order,  was  a  move- 
ment which  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated.  The  firing  was  also  most 
capital,  and  the  rapidity  with  which  the  pieces  were  unlimbered,  load- 
ed and  discharged,  again  limbered,  the  men  mounted,  and  galloped 
off  at  full  speed  to  a  distant  quarter,  was  sufficient  to  convince  all 
present  of  the  efficiency  of  this  important  branch  of  our  Army. 

The  parade  lasted  at  least  one  hour  and  a  half,  and  at  its  conclu- 
sion, after  the  horses  had  been  housed,  the  companies  were  escorted 
from  the  parade-ground  to  the  inner  Fort  by  Mentor's  celebrated 
brass  band.  The  sabre  drill  was  then  gone  through  with  in  the  same 
perfect  manner  that  the  other  drill  had  been  executed. 

The  visitors  were  highly  delighted  with  the  entire  proceedings,  and 
left  the  Fort  wharf  with  three  cheers  for  the  United  States  Light 
Artillery.  The  drill  of  the  troops  was  witnessed  by  nearly  a  thousand 
spectators,  and  it  would  be  a  fair  estimate  to  say  that  at  least  nine- 
tenths  of  them  had  never  seen  any  thing  of  the  kind  before.  A  large 
number  of  those  present  were  ladies,  who  appeared  to  enjoy  the  scene 
amazingly. 

At  a  quarter  to  twelve  o'clock,  tho  Lancaster  started  from  the 
wharf  at  Fort  McHenry  for  the  new  Fort  Carroll,  some  five  miles 
lower  down  the  Patapsco  River  towards  the  bay ;  and  after  a  fine  run 
down,  and  giving  ample  time  for  all  on  board  to  view  the  works  there, 
her  head  was  turned  towards  the  city,  where  all  were  safely  landed 
before  two  o'clock.  As  the  boat  rounded  Fort  Carroll,  one  of 
the  bands  played  "  Hail,  Columbia,"  and  when  she  touched  at  Fort 
]\IcHenry,  on  her  return,  the  band  performed  •'  The  Star  Spangled 
Banner."  On  leaving  the  Fort,  cheer  after  cheer  went  up  for  the 
United  States  Army,  and  its  accomphshed  officers,  who,  being  on  the 
wharf,  received  the  honors  with  heads  uncovered.  On  the  trip,  both 
up  and  down,  the  true  Baltimore  song  of  '•  The  Star-Spangled  Banner," 


INVITATIONS    TO    VISIT    WASHINGTON    AND    MOUNT    VERNON.        81 

and  other  patriotic  songs  were  sung,  the  choruses  being  swelled  by 
lusty  voices  from  St.  Louis,  Chillicothe,  Cincinnati  and  Baltimore. 

The  City  Council  Committee  of  Washington,  accompanied  by  the 
Committee  of  its  citizens  appointed  in  town  meeting,  reached  Baltimore 
on  Monday  morning  to  unite  in  the  celebration,  and  to  invite  the 
guests  and  Baltimore  authorities  to  visit  their  city  on  Tuesday.  The 
programme  for  this  was  an  unusually  inviting  one.  The  party  was 
expected  to  leave  Baltimore  by  a  special  train  about  seven  o'clock,  and 
arriving  at  Washington  by  half-past  eight  or  nine,  would  be  met  and 
welcomed,  and  then  conveyed  to  the  President's  House,  where  they 
would  be  received  in  the  great  east  room  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States  and  his  entire  cabinet.  After  leaving  the  Presidential 
mansion,  the  company  were  to  be  taken  to  the  Patent  Office,  Smithso- 
nian Institute,  and  the  Capitol,  to  view  those  structures.  Thence,  by 
one  or  two  o'clock,  they  would  be  put  on  board  the  steamer  George 
Washington  for  a  visit  to  Mount  Vernon,  sixteen  miles  distant,  to 
view  the  tomb  of  the  Father  of  his  Country.  On  returning  from  Mount 
Vernon,  the  guests  would  be  further  entertained  by  the  people  of  Wash- 
ington in  a  giand  banquet  at  Carusi's  Saloon,  Avhich,  with  the  other 
features  of  the  day,  promised  to  reflect  great  credit  upon  the  national 
metropolis. 

The  Committee  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  AVashington  was  as 
follows:  Walter  Lennox,  J.  C.  McGuire,  C.  F.  Stansbury,  S.  P. 
Franklin,  Joseph  Bryan,  Peter  Hooe.  Nicholas  Callan,  and  Colonel 
Irwin.  The  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  were  Messrs.  Smith, 
Riggs  and  Miller ;  and  of  the  Common  Council,  Messrs.  Brown,  Ed- 
mondson,  French  and  Hutchinson. 

Among  the  courtesies  so  generously  tendered  the  Western  guests 
during  their  stay  in  Baltimore,  we  ought  not  to  omit  the  invitation 
of  the  Northern  Central  Railroad  Company,  of  which  at  the  time  the 
Hon.  John  P.  Kennedy  was  President,  but  who  has  since  been  suc- 
ceeded by  Zenus  Barnum,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  well-known 
hotel  at  Baltimore.  This  invitation  was  tendered  at  the  instance  of 
Robert  M.  Magraw,  one  of  its  oldest  directors,  and  C.  C.  Adreon,  its 
intelligent  superintendent,  was  active  in  putting  it  into  effect. 

The  several  delegations  from  the  West  also  received  invitations 
from  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  to  use  their  road  on 
their  return,  and  a  large  number  of  them  availed  themselves  of  the 
invitation  to  view  that  new  and  important  line. 


THE 


RAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF   1857. 


CHAPTER    711. 

THE    GRAND  BANQUET  AT   THE  MARYLAND  INSTITUTE,  BALTIMORE. 

The  grand  banquet  given  by  the  citizens  of  Baltimore  to  their 
Western  friends,  was  the  cuhninating  feature  of  the  hospitable  and 
friendly  welcomings  which  their  presence  evoked.  There  was  combined 
to  do  honor  to  the  occasion — 

"  The  music,  the  banquet,  and  the  wine. 
The  garlands,  the  rose  odors,  and  the  flowers, 
The  sparkling  eyes,  and  flashing  ornaments  ; 
All  the  delusions  of  such  dizzy  scenes — 
Their  false  and  true  enchantment," 

— and  back  of  the  animating  accessories  thus  brought  together  to  en- 
liven, with  their  magnificent  array,  this  social  re-union  of  the  East  and 
West,  there  was  the  strong  feeling  of  fratei-nization,  the  prevailing  sen- 
timent that  the  assembly  was  not  simply  one  of  those  occasions  of 
edacious  and  bibacious  enjoyment  which  pass  away,  leaving  no  deeper 
impress  than  their  mere  conviviality  is  capable  of  inspiring.  The 
"  true  enchantment "  pervadingly  felt  was  drawn  from  the  hearts  of 
the  participants,  and  found  its  most  generous  impulses  in  the  genial 
effervescence  of  a  national  and  patriotic  feeling. 

The  commodious  saloon  of  the  Maryland  Institute  is  peculiarly 
suited  for  the  appropriate  arrangement  of  a  festal  occasion,  so  huge 
in  proportions  and  imposing  in  display  as  this,  and  all  its  facilities  had 
been  seized  upon  by  the  Connnittee-of  Arrangements  to  make  the  tout 
ensemble  as  perfect  as  possible.  They  had  a  right  to  congratulate 
themselves  in  succeeding  in  this  endeavor  to  a  gratifying  extent.  The 
decorations  of  the  hall  were  profuse,  appropriate,  and  in  good  taste. 


TUK  APPEARANCE  OF  THE  GREAT  BANQUET  HALL.      83 

Above  the  rostrum,  at  the  head  of  the  hall,  placed  so  as  to  attract  the 
eye  immediately  upon  entering,  was  extended  a  decorated  canvas, 
bearing  the  insci-iption : 

qOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOq 
O       '•  A  HEARTY  WELCOME  FROM  BALTIMORE  TO  THE  WEST."       O 

**oooooooooooooooooooooooooO 

Immediately  beneath,  on  a  gorgeous  banner  of  green  silk,  were  em- 
blazoned in  gold  two  hands,  clasped  in  the  fervent  grasp  of  friendship, 
surrounded  by  evergreens  and  flowers.  The  balustrade  of  the  galleries 
was  richly  festooned  with  evergreens,  interspersed  with  brilliant  flow- 
ers, edged  with  a  drapery  of  red,  white  and  blue,  with  miniature 
American  flags  at  appropriate  intervals.  In  the  centre  of  the  Hall  a 
draped  canop}^  of  American  flags  was  surmounted  by  the  American 
eagle,  whilst  throughout  the  saloon  the  general  effect  was  sustained  by 
the  disposition  of  brilliant  and  varied  decorations. 

These  accessories  served  to  bring  into  strong  relief  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  tables  upon  which  the  banquet  was  spread.  At  the  head 
of  the  Hall  a  cross-table,  slightly  raised,  was  placed,  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  presiding  officers,  and  some  of  the  more  eminent  guests. 
From  this,  three  long  tables  were  placed,  extending  the  entire  length 
of  the  Hall,  and  affording  seats  altogether  for  very  nearly  one  thou- 
sand guests.  These  tables,  under  the  care  of  the  experienced  caterer 
for  the  occasion,  Mr.  Wm.  Guy,  were  abundantly  laden  with  the 
ciioicest  provision,  and  most  sumptuously  furnished  and  decorated. 
Rich  china  and  glassware,  magnificent  bouquets  of  flowers,  and  splen- 
did ornaments  of  confectionery,  flashed  and  glittered  in  the  brilliant 
gaslight,  and  completed  the  enchantment  of  the  scene,  whilst  giving 
the  abundant  promise  of  gratifying  the  moi-e  material  tastes  of  the 
participants. 

The  galleries  were  exclusively  reserved — first,  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  families  of  the  excursionists,  and  then  for  the  friends  of  the 
Baltimore  participators  in  the  banquet.  These  were  filled  at  an  early 
hour,  and  the  presence  of  the  fair  occupants  was  one  of  the  pleasing 
incidents  of  the  scene,  provoking  many  a  gallant  reference  from  the 
orators  of  the  night,  and  also  eliciting  an  interest  that  had  a  practical 
exposition  in  the  sight  of  bouquets,  thrown  with  rapid  dexterity  into 
the  midst  of  a  group  of  smiling  faces. 

The  guests  of  the  occasion  assembled  between  six  and  seven  o'clock, 
and  were  received  and  welcomed  in  the  fine  Library  rooms  of  the 


84  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST, 

Hall.  Soon  after  seven  o'clock  the  main  doors  of  the  saloon  were 
thrown  open,  and  the  procession,  headed  by  Mayor  Swann,  marched 
in  and  took  seats  at  the  long  extended  tables,  which,  in  the  briefest 
time,  were  completely  occupied.  Whilst  these  preliminary  arrange- 
ments were  in  progress,  the  Independent  Blues'  Band,  of  Baltimore, 
advantageously  posted,  filled  the  Hall  with  delicious  music. 

Hon.  Thomas  Swann,  Mayor  of  the  city,  presided,  and  was  seated 
at  the  elevated  table  at  the  southern  end  of  the  hall.  He  was  assisted 
by  C.  C.  Jamieson,  J.  Hanson  Thomas,  John  W.  Garrett,  Adam  Den- 
mead,  B.  A.  Vickers,  A.  Schumacher,  Hugh  A.  Cooper,  and  Robert 
Clinton  Wright,  as  Vice  Presidents.  His  Excellency  Gov.  Chase,  of 
Ohio,  was  on  the  right  of  the  Mayor,  and  Hon.  Judge  Pruden,  of  Cin- 
cinnati, on  his  left.  Occupying  adjoining  seats  were  Chauncy  Brooks, 
Gen.  Columbus  O'Donnell,  with  G.  R.  Taylor,  representing  the  Mayor 
of  St.  Louis ;  Mr.  Adams,  jMayor  of  Chillicothe ;  J.  L.  Smith,  repre- 
senting the  Mayor  of  Washington ;  Wm.  Pinckney  Whyte,  Wm.  J. 
Albert  and  Hon.  C.  M.  Keyser,  of  the  Citizens'  General  Committee  of 
Arrangements.  On  the  inside  of  this  table  were  Col.  Wm.  McMillan 
and  Col.  H.  B.  Carrington,  aids  to  Gov.  Chase ;  Lieut.  Mullen,  U.  S. 
A.,  from  Fort  McHenry ;  Hon.  D.  M.  Barringer,  late  U.  S.  Minister  to 
Spain,  John  F.  McJilton,  President  of  the  First  Branch  of  the  City 
Council,  J.  B.  Seidenstricker,  President  of  the  Second  Branch,  and 
others. 

At  each  of  the  tables  extended  down  the  hall,  one  of  the  Vice  Pres- 
idents named  above,  presided.  The  guests  being  seated,  and  welcomed 
to  the  entertainment  before  them,  the  clatter  of  dishes,  the  ringing  of 
glasses,  the  busy  motions  and  frequent  calls  upon  the  waiters,  gave 
audible  token  of  the  activity  and  zest  with  which  it  was  enjoyed.  The 
''  proof  of  the  pudding  is  in  the  eating,"  but  as  all  our  readers  could  not 
have  this  pleasant  demonstrative  test  of  the  sumptuous  variety  of  the 
feast  with  which  Baltimore  entertained  her  guests,  we  annex  the  bill 
of  fare  for  the  occasion.  It  has  a  presumptive  suggestiveness  about  it 
of  good  things,  edible  and  bibible,  sufficient  to  appease  even  that  class 
of  grumblers  who 

Criticise  your  meat,  and  analyze  your  wine, 
And  yet  on  plain  mutton  deign  at  home  to  dine. 

BILL    OF    FARE. 

Soups. 
Green  Turtle.  Soup  h  la  Julienne. 


BILL  OF  FARE  AT  THE  BALTIMORE  BANQUET.         86 

Fish. 
Boiled  Salmon,  Lobster  Sauce. 
Boileil  Sheepshead,  AVhite  Sauce. 
Striped  Bass,  Baked,  Genoise  Sauce. 
Chesapeake  Bay  Mackerel,  k  la  Maitre  d'Hotel. 

Relishes. 
Worcestershire  Sauce.         French  Mustard.  Assorted  Pickles. 

Apple  Sauce.  Currant  Jelly.  Cucumbers. 

Olives.  Anchovy. 

Boiled. 
Ham.  Lamb.  Spring  Chicken. 

Entrees. 

Filets  de  Boeuf,  Madeira  Wine  Sauce.  Mountain  Oysters,  Sauce  Royale. 

Petites  Pates,  h,  la  Heine.  Beuder  h  la  Richelieu,  Tomato  Sance. 

Sweet  Bread,  Larded,  Gardinere    "  Lamb  Chops,  Soubaise  Sauce. 

Fillets  of  Veal,  Perageaux  "  Timbale  de  Macaroni,  Milanaise. 

Vol  au  Vent,  k  la  Financier.  Galantine  de  Poulets. 
Young  Chickens,  Mai-yland  Style. 

Maryland  Course. 

Roast  Saddle  of  Mountain  Mutton,  Currant  Jelly  Sauce. 

Soft  Crabs  Fried,  Butter  and  Parsley  Sauce. 
Soft  Crabs,  Broiled.  Green  Goose,  Apple  Sauce. 

Hard  Crabs,  Deviled.  Roast  Ham,  Champagne  Sauce. 

Summer  Ducks,  with  Olives. 

Vegetables. 
Stewed  Tomatoes.  Baked  Tomatoes.  Green  Peas. 

Green  Com.  String  Beans.  Boiled  Potatoes. 

Boiled  Beets.  Cymlings. 

Cold  and  Ornamental  Dishes. 

Ham  on  a  Pedestal,  decorated  with  Jelly. 

Boned  Turkey,  on  a  Socle,  French  Style. 
Poulets  TruflFe,  h.  la  Belle  Vue.  Salade  de  Poulets  Historee. 

Bceuf  Sale,  en  Presse.  Buffalo  Tongues,  Garnished  with  Jelly. 

Lobster  Salad,  Mayonnaise.  Sliced  Tomatoes,  h.  la  Harden. 

Pate  of  Liver  Jelly.  Crab  Salad,  Baltimore  Fashion. 

Aspic  d'Huitres. 

Ornamented  Pieces  and  Dessert. 

Emblem  of  Commerce.  Madeira  Wine. 

Ancient  Cornucopia.  Punch  Cakos. 

Corbeille  Renaissance.  Vanilla  Ice  Cream. 

Corbeille  Antique.  Almond  Ice  Cream. 

Pyramides  la  Amors.  Strawberry  Ice  Cream. 

Pyramide  la  Dolphin.  Orange  Ice  Cream. 

Nougat  Casket.  Raspberry  Ice  Cream. 

Pyramides  Dessert.  Pine  Apple  Ice  Cream. 

Bisquit  Glacee,  au  Cream  Caisse.  Caramel  Ice  Cream. 


86  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO   THE    EAST. 

Charlotte  Russe.  Plumbier. 

Maraschino.  Bisquit  Glacee  au  Chorolade. 

Charlotte  Russe  (Lemon).  Fancy  Cakes. 

Jelly  Rum  Maraschino. 

Fruits  and  Flowers. 

Water  Melons.        Apples.         Oranges.  Pine  Apples.         Pears. 

Bananas.  Apricots.  Raspberries. 

Pyramids.  Bouquets  and  Baskets  of  Flowers,  in  every  variety. 

The  activity  of  the  onset  had  somewhat  subsided,  the  clatter  and 
crash  of  crockery  became  intermittent,  the  popping  of  champagne-bot- 
tles was  reaching  to  a  rapid  fusilade,  and  the  social  feeling  of  the  guests 
was  accumulating  in  a  chorus  of  intermingling  voices,  when  the  pre- 
siding oflBcer,  Hon.  Thomas  Swann,  called  upon  the  large  company  to 
receive  and  do  honor  to  the  first  of  the 

REGULAR    TOASTS. 

1.  Our  Country,  our  whole  Country,  and  nothing  hut  our  Country — What 
the  political  wisdom  of  our  forefathers  created  by  constitutional  compact,  their 
sons  have  consolidated  by  the  practical  application  of  scientific  discovery  and 
commercial  enterprise. 

Air — Hail  Columbia. 

Wm.  Pinckney  Whyte,  of  Baltimore,  was  called  upon  to  respond 
to  this  toast,  and,  rising  amidst  the  cheering  of  the  assembly,  spoke  as 
follows : 

I  should  have  preferred,  Mr.  President,  that  the  pleasing  task  of  responding 
to  this  toast  should  have  been  confided  to  abler  hands ;  but  as  you  have  called 
upon  me,  I  will  not  resist  the  impulse  to  reply  to  that  sentiment,  which  has 
already  found  an  echo  in  every  heart. 

"  God  and  my  right"  is  inscribed  on  the  banner  of  kings,  but  "  God  and 
my  whole  coimtry  "  is  the  motto  engraved  on  every  true  republican  heart.  [Ap- 
plause.] It  is  this  love  of  country,  which  nerves  men  to  great  and  heroic 
deeds  of  self-denial ;  which  makes  them  leave  home,  friends,  family  ties,  and 
go  forth,  baring  their  breasts  to  the  bayonets  of  invading  armies.  It  is  this 
love  of  country,  that  stands  like  a  shield  of  steel  to  protect  our  constitution 
from  the  assaults  of  internal  foes.     [Cheers.] 

Nothing  so  much  encourages  this  feeling  as  the  happy  union  of  the  people 
of  different  communities  and  commonwealths  in  festive  gatherings  like  these. 

Social  intercourse  is  the  corner-stone  of  good  government.  It  kindles  o-ener- 
ous  sentiments  and  strengthens  mutual  regard.  The  oftener  citizens  of  the 
several  States  and  sections  are  brought  together,  the  sooner  will  all  asperities 


WM.    PINCKNEY    WHYTE    RESPONDS    TO    THE    FIRST    TOAST.         87 

be  softened  and  all  unkindness  done  away.  This  interchange  of  hospitality 
makes  us  tnily  feel  we  are  members  of  one  family,  born  to  the  same  inherit- 
ance of  liberty,  and  protected  in  our  rights  by  the  same  constitution.  It 
teaches  us  that  the  various  States  are  but  "  many  mansions  "  in  one  house — 
the  home  of  our  fathers.  It  engenders  a  common  love  for  each,  and  implants 
in  our  hearts  the  resolution  to  maintain  the  welfare  and  the  rights  of  every 
portion  of  our  Coufederacy. 

It  assures  us  that  the  "  border  ruffians  "  of  the  far  West  have  but  little 
more  reality  in  their  existence  than  the  phantom  ship  or  the  Flying  Dutchman, 
and  the  shriekers  for  freedom  who  are  always  bleeding  (but  never  die  !)  for 
Kansas,  are  as  small  in  quantity  as  the  prize-money  to  a  seaman  of  an  English 
man-of-war  after  the  officers  have  taken  their  share.  You  remember  Jack's 
reply,  when  asked  how  the  prize-money  was  distributed.  Oh !  said  he,  they 
strain  it  through  a  ladder ;  what  falls  to  the  ground  belongs  to  the  officers, 
and  what  sticks  to  the  rounds  goes  to  the  men. 

****  **** 

In  that  feeling,  then,  of  common  love,  men  of  the  West,  we  welcome  you 
here  to-day! 

Some  of  you,  for  the  first  time,  look  upon  us  and  our  homes.  Here  were 
we  bom,  and  here  have  we  reared  our  household  gods  ! 

To  many  of  you  are  our  names  and  lineage  unknown,  but  to  you  all  there  is 
a  guarantee  of  friendship,  in  that  our  fathers  shed  their  common  blood  to  earn 
for  us  the  blessings  we  now  share.     [Applause.] 

Some  of  you  are  returning  to  the  place  of  your  nativity  and  to  the  happy 
memories  which  cluster  round  your  "  childhood's  home."  "  Fidelity  to  the 
home  of  your  adoption  finds  no  guarantee  in  a  renegade  desertion  of  that  of 
your  birth,"  and  there  is  no  want  of  manliness  in  the  tear  which  gathers  in 
your  eye  as  you  view  your  native  hills,  "  the  valley's  changeful  green,"  and 
tread  with  filial  reverence  the  sod  upon  your  fathers'  graves. 

Under  whatever  circumstances  you  come,  we  give  you  a  warm  and  heart- 
felt welcome  to  our  homes  and  our  firesides.  As  we  know  each  other  better, 
so  will  our  bond  of  friendship  be  more  enduring. 

I  know  the  value  of  such  friendly  visits.  It  was  my  privilege  to  enjoy  a 
similar  opportunity  on  the  recent  railroad  celebration,  so  pleasantly  denomi- 
nated the  "  Wedding  of  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  with  those  of  the  great 
West."  Although  present  at  the  marriage  ceremony,  I  cannot  tell  who  was 
the  happy  bride.  I  cannot  say  whether  it  was  the  blooming  maiden,  who 
came  leaping,  like  a  thing  of  joy  and  beauty,  from  the  mountain,  and  was 
called  Miss  Souri,  or  whether  it  was  the  stately  widow,  who  came  majestically 
and  royally  from  the  cold  North,  under  the  name  of  Mrs.  Sippi.  [Laughter.] 
But  this  I  do  know,  it  was  a  brilliant  wedding,  and  the  sun  shone  brightly  on 
the  bride  ;  and  on  the  way  to  and  from  the  wedding,  we  had  a  gloiiously 


05  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

"good  time."  [Renewed  merriment.]  The  "Catawba"  and  "Missouri'* 
flowed  in  torrents,  like  Niagara.  It  was  served  to  us  in  bottles,  it  was  given 
to  us  in  demijohns  ;  indeed,  Mr.  President,  it  was  everywhere  "  lying  about 
loose."  It  was  a  great  trial  to  resist  that  Catawba  or  that  insinuating  Missouri. 
I  saw  a  leader  of  a  Total  Abstinence  Society,  who  declared  he  found  no  more 
harm  in  it  than  in  the  "  hard  cider"  of  1840.  [Cheers  and  laughter.] 
«  ****** 

That  great  railroad,  too,  extending  its  iron  grasp  from  our  own  Patapsco 
to  the  shore  of  the  "  Father  of  Waters,"  what  a  lesson  did  it  teach  us.  I 
learned  from  it  what  a  powerful  agent  it  is  to  republicanize  a  people.  It 
teaches  man  how,  in  his  own  individuality,  in  this  country,  he  is  lost  sight  of 
in  the  mass.  There  the  senator  and  humblest  citizen  sit  together,  and  the 
rich  man  enjoys  no  greater  privileges  than  the  poor  emigrant  by  his  side. 
They  travel  alike,  with  no  courier  but  the  telegraph,  and  with  no  coat  of  arms 
but  a  good  character.  It  brings  citizens  of  far  distant  sections  close  together, 
and  keeps  alive  those  friendly  feelings  which  absence  too  often  wipes  away. 
We  are  under  obligations  to  it  for  placing  you  among  us  this  day,  and  in  be- 
half of  Baltimore  and  its  citizens,  I  desire  to  offer  you  a  cordial  welcome. 

Men  of  the  West,  welcome  !  Do  you  hail  from  Cincinnati,  famed  throughout 
our  land  as  the  Queen  City  of  the  West  ?  Welcome  !  Do  you  come  from 
Chillicothe,  which,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  has  stood  with  its  portals  wide 
open  to  receive  the  weary  pilgrim  on  his  jom'ney  West  ?  Welcome  !  Or  do 
you  come  from  the  city  which  La  Clede  founded  on  the  shores  of  the  Missis- 
sippi ?     We  greet  you  ! 

Women  of  the  West !  (oh  !  what  would  these  men  be  without  i/ou  ?)  we 
welcome  you  ! 

Music  by  the  band. 

]\Ir.  W  byte's  remarks  were  enthusiastically  cheered  throughout. 
At  the  close,  the  Chair  announced  the  second  regular  toast : 

2.  The  Young  West. — The  finger  of  destiny  points  to  it  as  the  future  Em- 
pire of  surpassing  agricultural  wealth,  manufacturing  production,  commercial 
energy,  and  poHtical  power.  May  its  wisdom  and  its  patriotism,  transcending 
even  these,  continue  to  enrich  our  country's  history,  with  imperishable  exam- 
ples of  national  grandeur,  civil  justice,  and  social  happiness  ! 

Ain — Speed  the  Plough. 

His  excellency  Gov.  Chase,  of  Ohio,  was  called  upon  to  respond  to 
this  toast,  and  was  received  with  rounds  of  applause.     He  said: 

Mr.  Prksident  : — I  am  called  upon  to  respond  to  a  sentiment  in  comnien- 
dalion  of  the  young  West.     For  what  portion  of  our  broad   land   am  I  ex- 


GOV.    CHASE,  OF  OHIO,    SPEAKS    TO    THE    SECOXD    TOAST.  89 

pected  to  speak  ?  A  hundred  years  ago  there  was  no  West  at  all.  There  was 
a  vast,  unexplored,  unknown  tract,  whicli  extemled  westward  from  the  sum- 
mit of  the  Alleghanies,  no  man  could  tell  whither.  But  there  were  no  set- 
tlers. Beyond  the  mountain  crest,  in  1703,  settlement  was  forbidden  by  the 
British  King.  But  the  authority  of  royal  edicts  went  down  before  the  storm 
of  the  Revolution,  and  it  was  then  that  the  Genesis  of  the  new-born  institu- 
tions of  freedom  called  into  being  a  West.  It  was  a  fair  and  lovely  land,  over 
which  the  Alleghanies  kept  watch  from  the  East,  while  the  Mississippi,  rushing 
down  from  the  region  of  Northern  snows,  guarded  its  western  borders. 

[At  this  point  the  Mayor  desired  the  speaker  to  pause  for  a  mo- 
ment, on  account  of  some  confusion — arising  out  of  the  growing  anima- 
tion in  that  quarter — in  the  lower  end  of  the  immense  hall,  where  it 
was  impossible  to  hear.     After  a  brief  delay  he  resumed.] 

It  is  not  very  easy,  Mr.  Mayor,  to  speak  to  an  assemblage  of  many  hun- 
dred gentlemen,  gathered  in  one  hall,  upon  an  occasion  like  this.  It  is  im- 
possible for  anybody  to  make  himself  heard  throughout  the  vast  extent  of  this 
room,  and  it  would  be  unreasonable  to  expect  of  men,  whose  hearts  are  set  all 
a-glow  by  Baltimore  hospitality,  and  who  cannot  possibly  hear  what  is  said  at 
this  end  of  the  hall,  that  they  should  keej)  very  silent  at  the  other  end.  I  am 
not  at  all  surprised  that  they  should  prefer  a  little  talking  among  themselves, 
to  trying  to  listen  to  what  they  cannot  hear.  And,  surrounded  as  they  are  on 
every  side  by  so  much  grace  and  loveliness,  who  can  wonder  that  they  are 
even  a  little  more  than  joyful  to  night.     [Applause.] 

And  indeed,  Mr.  Mayor,  it  hardly  seems  necessary  that  I  should  make  any 
elaborate  speech  for  the  Young  West,  when  you  have  all  around  you  so  many 
of  her  sons,  drawn,  by  your  invitation,  from  their  homes  to  your  hospitable 
board.  From  the  shores  of  the  Father  of  Waters,  from  the  borders  of  the 
beautiful  Ohio,  from  the  valley  of  the  gentle  Scioto,  they  have  come  at  your 
summons,  and  they  find  that  the  warmth  of  Baltimore  hearts  is  only  surjjassed 
by  the  warmth  of  a  Baltimore  sun.  [Applause.]  They  greet  you,  JMr.  Mayor, 
with  glad  and  grateful  hearts,  filled  with  sincere  and  earnest  aspirations  that 
the  City  of  Baltimore,  which  has  already  achieved  for  herself  such  splendid 
distinctions,  may  go  on  from  strength  to  strength,  and  from  conquest  to  con- 
quest, until  she  shall  have  fully  realized  the  most  glowing  anticipations  which 
even  your  zeal  for  her  interests  has  ever  indulged.  More  than  that,  what  lover 
of  Baltimore  can  wish  ? 

The  men  of  the  West,  Mr.  Mayor,  come  to  you,  we  trust,  with  hearts  as 
warm  and  as  loyal  as  your  own.  We  love,  indeed,  with  special  devotion,  the 
great  States  whose  children,  by  birth  or  adoption,  we  are ;  but  we  should  bo 
ashamed  of  ourselves  if  ignobly  conscious  that  the  circle  of  our  affections  em- 
braced any  thing  less  than  our  country  and  our  whole  country.     We  shovdd  be 


90  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

ashamed  to  accept  your  hospitalities  if  we  cotdd  not  pledge  ourselves  to  up- 
hold and  defend,  with  you  and  with  equal  zeal,  now  and  evermore,  Right, 
Justice,  and  Union.  [Cheers  and  applause.]  Sir,  in  that  great  central  valley 
from  which  we  come,  there  are  no  disloyal  hearts.  From  the  mountains 
which,  from  its  eastern  horder,  look  down  upon  the  Atlantic,  to  that  far  off 
rano-e  whose  snowy  summits  are  reflected  from  the  tranquil  waters  of  the  Pa- 
cific, there  beats,  I  trust,  no  heart — and  I  trust  there  never  will  heat  a  heart — 
disloyal  to  this  glorious  Union.  [Renewed  applause.]  In  devotion  to  the 
Union  we  do  not  mean  to  let  anybody  go  beyond  us.  Our  Kentucky  neighbors 
are  in  the  habit  of  boasting  that  they  have  the  fastest  horses,  the  fleetest  dogs, 
and  the  fairest  women  in  the  world.  We  in  Ohio  are  not  quite  so  apt  to  vannt, 
but  you  will  forgive  me,  Mr.  Mayor,  if,  catching  something  of  that  spirit,  I 
aflinn  that  love  of  the  Union  is  nowhere  more  earnest  or  more  ardent  than  in 
the  hearts  of  our  people.     [Cheers  and  hearty  applause.] 

And  now,  sir,  permit  me,  in  behalf  of  these  young  men  of  the  ^Yest,  and 
ih  behalf  of  the  men  of  the  West  not  quite  so  young,  whom  your  invitation 
has  drawn  hither,  to  return  to  you,  and  to  the  city  of  Baltimore,  our  heartfelt 
acknowledgments  for  your  kind  and  cordial  welcome.  We  shall  take  the  vivid 
sense  of  it  home  with  us,  and  rejoice  in  the  remembrance  of  it  for  years  to 
come.  And,  though  we  cannot  hope  to  match  your  matchless  hospitality,  we 
shall  not  be  satisfied  until,  with  hearts  warm  as  your  own,  and  \vith  as  cordial 
grasps  of  friendly  hands,  we  can  reciprocate  your  welcome  in  our  western 
homes.     [Applause  and  cheers.] 

I  will  detain  you  no  longer,  Mr.  Mayor.  I  have  heard  of  a  good  old  Con- 
necticut minister  who  said  that  sometimes,  he  was  ashamed  to  say,  he  had 
done  some  very  wrong  things,  and  at  other  times,  he  was  sorry  to  say,  he  had 
done  some  very  foolish  things  ;  "  but,"  said  he,  "  I  am  very  grateful,  brethren, 
that  I  was  never  left  to  do  a  long  thing."  Permit  me,  therefore,  that  I  may 
not  be  "  left  to  do  a  long  thing,"  to  close  here  by  expressing  the  feelings  of 
my  own  heart,  and  of  all  the  western  hearts  around  me,  in  this  sentiment : 

The  City  of  Baltimore. — Generous  in  ho.spitality,  energetic  in  enterprises, 
great  in  achievement ;  the  young  West  welcomes  the  embrace  of  her  iron  arms. 
[Prolonged  cheers  and  applause  ] 

The  President  announced  the  third  regular  toast,  as  follows : 

3.  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton. — The  last  survivor  of  the  Signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  who,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1828,  laid  the 
foundation  stone  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 

"  True  honor  comes,  a  pilgrim  gray, 
To  deck  tho  turf  that  wraps  his  clay." 

AxR—Oft.  in  the  Stilly  Night. 


JOHN    W.    GARRETT    RESPONSE    TO    THE    THIRD   TOAST.  91 

Mayor  Swann  called  upon  .To?in  ^Y.  Garrett,  of  Baltimore,  one  of 
the  Directors  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  who  responded : 

I  regret,  Mr.  President,  tliat  the  privilege  of  casting  anew  laurels  upon  the 
grave  of  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  has  not  been  confided  to  abler  hands  ; 
but,  sir,  if  perfect  veneration  for  his  patriotism  and  high  appreciation  of  his 
services,  in  the  last  great  act  of  his  life,  in  inaugurating  the  magnificent  en- 
terprise which  has  assured  the  destiny  of  our  city,  afford  any  title,  I  may  not 
refuse  my  humble  tribute  to  his  memory. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1828,  amid  the  imposing  ceremonies  and  demonstra- 
tions of  interest  manifested  by  every  class  of  the  citizens  of  Baltimore,  of 
Maryland,  and  the  surrounding  States,  after  ninety-one  winters  had  silvered 
his  head,  and  he  alone  remained,  the  solitary  survivor  of  the  56  immortal 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  illustrious  man  then  declared, 
through  the  orator  of  that  day,  whilst  "in  the  full  possession  of  his  powers, 
with  his  feelings  and  affections  still  buoyant  and  warm,"  "  that  the  proudest  act 
of  his  life,  and  the  most  important  one  in  its  consequences  to  his  country, 
was  the  signature  of  Independence — the  next  the  laying  of  the  first  stone  of 
the  work,  which  was  to  perpetuate  the  Union  of  the  American  States,  to  make 
the  East  and  West  as  one  household  in  the  facilities  of  intercourse  and  the 
feelings  of  mutual  afifectiou." 

At  that  period,  sir,  the  great  idea  of  the  railroad  was  in  its  infancy.  But 
one  charter  then  existed  in  Europe,  granted  in  1826,  for  the  construction  of 
the  Liverpool  and  Manchester  Railway.  The  charter  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad  was  obtained  in  1827. 

All  honor,  then,  to  the  comprehensive  minds,  to  the  sagacious  and  distin- 
guished men,  who  originated  and  commenced  the  magnificent  enterprise  of  con- 
necting the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  and  the  Ohio,  and  who  pressed  forward 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  the  splendid  pioneer  in  the  great  system  of 
American  Railways. 

The  prophetic  inspiration  of  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  has  been  realized. 
During  the  past  year  more  than  600,000  passengers  and  nearly  one  million  tons 
of  freight,  have  been  transported  on  this  great  highway,  and  we  find  its  reve- 
nue for  that  period  $830,000  in  excess  of  the  entire  original  capital  of  the 
company,  which  was  but  four  millions  dollars. 

Foresight,  enterprise  and  energy  have  distinguished  the  leading  adminis- 
trations of  this  company.  F"or  twenty  nine  years,  without  a  single  exception, 
its  affairs  have  been  administered  with  singular  and  uniform  integrity  and 
honor ;  and  now,  with  230  locomotives  and  4,000  cars,  it  presents  a  greater 
equipment  than  any  other  road  of  the  Union — a  large  portion  of  second  track, 
a  double  line  of  magnetic  telegraph,  a  most  substantial  and  superior  road,  and 
a  capacity  for  a  large  increase  of  its  already  immense  business. 


92  EXCURSION    OF    WKSTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Mr.  President,  the  natural  position  of  Baltimore  is  a  most  favorable  one. 
Situated  on  the  western  borders  of  the  noble  Chesapeake,  where  the  salt 
waves  of  the  Atlantic  almost  lave  the  feet  of  the  Alleghanies,  it  is  thus  nearer 
the  great  centres  of  western  commerce,  and  the  mighty  valleys  of  the  Ohio 
and  the  Mississippi,  than  our  rival  sister  cities  of  the  North.  We  required  but 
the  foresight  and  indomitable  perseverance  of  those  who  have  so  wisely  planned 
and  executed  our  iron  routes  to  command  success.     [Applause.] 

We  have  stretched  our  arm  in  the  South  to  Parkersburg,  thus  oflPering  fa- 
cilities and  economy  of  river  transportation,  so  desirable  as  undoubtedly  to  at- 
tract an  important  portion  of  traffic,  that  has  heretofore  sought  the  seaboard 
markets  by  way  of  New  Orleans.  And  through  this  branch  also  the  union 
has  been  accomplished  with  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Road,  thus  perfecting 
the  American  Central  Line.  By  the  northern  arm  we  have  still  another  and 
most  desirable  route,  which  may  be  properly  styled  the  Line  of  the  Capitals. 
Grasping  at  our  side  the  brilliant  and  progressive  National  Metropolis  and  our 
own  revered  Annapolis — the  seat  of  classic  and  eloquent  memoiues,  and  still, 
as  of  yore,  of  cordial  and  elegant  hospitalities — thence  Westward  by  our  wel- 
come tributary  and  connection,  the  Central  Ohio  Road,  to  Columbus,  whose 
magnificent  government  buildings  indicate  the  wealth  and  greatness  of  the 
mighty  State  of  Ohio.  While  it  has  important  brandies  here,  north  to  the 
Lakes  and  south  to  Cincinnati,  it  progresses  still  directly  onward  to  the  seat  of 
government  of  Indiana.  And  this,  sir,  is  not  only  the  line  of  the  capitals,  but, 
as  I  feel  assured  our  guests  who  have  passed  over  it  will  endorse,  a  most  capi- 
tal line.     [Applause.] 

We  have  here,  sir,  noble  contestants  for  the  palm  of  enterprise,  energy, 
and  public  spirit.  Distinguished  representatives  from  the  communities  of  Cliil- 
licothe,  of  Zanesville,  of  Columbus,  of  Cincinnati,  and  last  but  not  least,  of 
St.  Louis.  Each,  in  its  degree,  has  accomplished  miracles,  aud  our  highest 
claim  is  only  fraternity  and  equality.     [Applause.] 

By  the  great  achievements  of  these  communities  we  are  linked  in  iron 
bands  from  the  Chesapeake  to  the  Mississippi.  By  their  aid  the  great  South- 
ern path  is  open  between  these  distant  points,  directly  and  reliably,  and  com- 
paratively free  from  the  fierce  rigors  of  northern  winters. 

Sir,  I  have  detained  you  too  long — but  I  must  be  pardoned  to  add  that  if 
there  be  degrees  of  beatitude  in  Heaven,  and  soids  there  are  sensible  of  pro- 
gress and  happiness  here, — this  festive  scene,  embalmed  by  the  cordial  brother- 
hood and  friendly  greetings  of  citizens  from  many  States,  and  from  a  terri- 
tory of  more  than  1,000  miles  in  extent,  graced  by  this  galaxy  of  the  lovely 
and  amiable  from  the  West,  intermingling  with  the  sweet  sisterhood  of  our 
hearts  and  homes, — if  there  be  such  sensations  there — at  this  delightful 
fruition  of  his  words  of  Faith  and  Hope,  in  friendship,  patriotism,  harmony 
and  the  promotion  of  mutual  interests,  surely  we  may  imagine  an  additional 


CniLIilCOTHE    SPEAKS    THROUGH    WM.    E.    GILMORE.  93 

throb  of  joy  to  the  heart  of  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  even  in  the  Spirit 
Land. 

This  very  practical  and  earnest  speech  was  well  received. 

The  next  toast  was  : 

i.  The  City  of  Chillicothe. — May  the  facilities  of  present  intercourse 
strengthen  the  bonds  that  joined  us  in  ancient  amity,  ere  "  Young  America," 
irreverently  faster  than  his  father,  began  to  "  ride  us  on  a  rail." 

AiK — Few  Days. 

Wm.  E.  Gilmore,  of  Chillicothe.  responded  as  follows: 
Gentlemen  of  the  city  of  Baltimore :  In  behalf  of  our  ISIayor,  who  feels 
that  his  lungs  are  not  sufficient  to  make  himself  heard  in  this  vast  hall,  I  am 
unexpectedly  called  upon  to  respond  to  the  toast  which  has  just  been  read,  in 
regard  to  my  native  city.  It  is  with  fear  that  I  trust  myself  to  speak  here, 
and  give  utterance  to  the  thoughts  which  arise  in  my  mind,  in  view  of  the 
beatiful  excursion  and  magnificent  entertainment  with  which  you  of  Baltimore 
have  treated  us  of  the  West.     [Applause.] 

I  have  fears  that  the  expressions  of  my  mind  might  savor  of  childish  en- 
thusiam  if  I  permitted  myself  to  respond  as  my  thoughts  present  themselves. 
And  yet,  why  should  I  not  be  enthusiastic  upon  an  occasion  like  this?  We  of 
Chillicothe  have  come  500  miles  by  rail  to  the  city  of  Baltimore.  We  have 
come  over  a  road  more  wonderful  in  its  accomplishment  than  the  road  built  by 
Napoleon  across  the  Alps.  The  mighty  Alleghanies  with  their  peaks  have 
passed  in  review  before  us,  as  it  were  by  magic,  or  as  the  army  of  an  emperor 
might  pass  in  view  before  him.  We  thought  as  we  came  along  of  the  mighty 
intellect  that  first  conceived  the  road,  of  the  wondrous  energy  that  executed 
it,  and  why  should  wc  not  be  enthusiastic?  And  above  all,  in  this  fair  city 
of  Baltimore,  with  these  warm  and  hearty  greetings  with  which  we  have  beea 
met,  not  as  strangers  from  distant  lands — but  as  brothers — why  should  we  not 
be  enthusiastic  ?  Under  circumatances  such  as  surround  me  here,  it  would 
be  folly  indeed  for  me  to  attempt  to  speak  at  any  length,  and  it  would  be 
equally  in  bad  taste.  I  will  only  add  to  what  I  have  said,  that  we  of  Chilli- 
cothe will  remember  this  kind  greeting — will  remember  all  these  things  at- 
tending this  excursion,  and  record  them  in  our  hearts  upon  leaves  to  which  we 
will  turn  every  day  and  read  with  affectionate  regard.    [Applause  and  cheers.] 

Mr.  Gilmore  was  higlily  complimented  for  his  beautiful  remarks. 
The  President  announced  as  the  next  regular  toast : 

5.  The  City  of  Cincinnati.  Her  lap  teeming  with  varied  manufactures,  and 
the  rich  productions  of  mechanical  skill,  art  and  commerce ;  she  well  becomes 
the  coronet  that  graces  her  queenly  brow. 

Air — Prima  Donna  Waltz. 


94  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Judge  Hart,  of  Cincinnati,  responded  to  this  toast  as  follows : 

Mr.  Presidext: — There  is  confined  in  one  of  the  Western  Lunatic  Asyhims 
a  man  who  is  laboring  under  the  dehisiou  that  the  original  seat  of  Paradise 
was  not  in  Asia,  hut  upon  the  farm  ■where  he  was  raised,  through  which  flows 
a  stream  called  Goose  Creek.  [Laughter.]  Now  it  is  charged  against  the 
people  of  Cincinnati  that  we  labor  under  a  delusion  not  unlike  that  of  our 
Goose  Creek  friend.  It  is  said  that  we  believe  that  the  sun,  the  bright  old 
sun,  does  not  rise  in  the  east,  but  in  Cincinnati,  and  there  he  retires  to  his  rest. 
And  to  judge  of  our  State  pride  by  our  city  pride,  we  plead  guilty  of  it,  but 
claim  that  our  fancy  in  this  respect  was  confined  within  the  limits  that  are 
reasonable  and  pardonable. 

An  occasional  display  of  tliis  fancy  we  know  that  the  people  of  Baltimore 
can  forget  and  forgive,  for  it  has  been  my  pleasure  to  know  many  men  in  the 
West,  born  and  reared  in  Baltimore,  and  I  never  yet  have  known  one  of  them 
whose  face  did  not  flush  deeper,  and  whose  heart  did  not  beat  quicker,  when 
an  allusion  was  made  to  the  city  of  his  birth.  [Applause  and  cheers  ]  In  the 
proudest  days  of  the  Roman  republic,  the  exclamation,  "  I  am  a  Roman  citi- 
zen," was  never  uttered  with  that  proud  emphasis  that  I  have  heard  from  the 
lips  of  a  child  of  Baltimore,  as  he  said,  "  I  am  a  Baltitnorean."     [Applause.] 

Baltimoreans,  you  have  many  and  various  causes  for  self-congratulation. 
Your  prosperity  has  kept  pace  with  the  pliysieal  developments  of  this  favored 
land,  and  that  prosperity  rests  upon  a  sure  and  solid  foimdation.  But  there  clus- 
ters around  the  name  of  Baltimore  a  prouder  glory  derived  from  the  pages  of 
history,  which  gives  you  a  just  riglit  to  exult,  and  which  ought  properly-  to 
inspire  you  with  the  noblest  sentiments  of  pride.  The  names  of  your  ances- 
tors are  linked  with  events  in  our  history  to  which  we  all  ascribe  the  greatness 
and  glory  of  our  common  country.  The  shackles  of  religious  intolerance  were 
shaken  off  upon  the  soil  of  Maryland,  and  the  doctrine  of  religious  liberty  was 
here  maintained  and  upheld,  and  that  e\ery  man  had  an  indisputable  right  to 
worship  Almighty  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience,  was  first 
proclaimed  in  Maryland.  [Cheers  and  applause.]  Your  antecedents  are 
linked  indissolubly  and  gloriously  with  the  events  of  the  American  Revolution, 
and  in  those  other  brilliant  achievements  of  the  second  war  of  independence, 
which  you  have  commemorated  in  monumental  stone.     [Renewed  applause.] 

But,  Baltimoreans,  I  want  you  to  remember  that  Cincinnati,  too,  has  a  his- 
tory to  which  we  proudly  point,  and  which  we  say  ought  to  challenge  the  wonder 
and  the  admiration  of  the  world.  You  know,  Mr.  President,  that  within  the 
memory  of  men  and  women  still  living,  the  place  now  occupied  by  the  city  of 
Cincinnati  was  thp  abode  of  the  Indian  and  the  wild  bea.sts  of  the  forest.  It 
is  not  long  since  that  but  a  few  cottages  were  the  only  signs  of  civilization  in 
that  vast  and  extended  wilderness  that  stretched  from  the  Alleghany  to  the 


CIN'CIXNATI    TOASTED,  AND    JUDGE    HART    RESPONDS.  95 

Rocky  Mountains.  And  yet,  within  a  single  lifetime,  from  a  few  log-cabins  you 
have  seen  grow  up  a  city  containing  over  200,000  souls.  Is  not  that,  in  itself, 
a  ^^yJnderful  creation  .'  And  what  manner  of  men  and  women  were  they  who 
have  built  up  a  city  like  that  from  such  a  small  beginning  ?  They  were  brave 
and  nolile-hearted,  and  we  of  Cincinnati  are  as  proud  of  their  achievements 
and  their  memories  as  you  of  Baltimore  are  of  the  bright  galaxy  of  names 
which  are  inscribed  upon  your  many  noble  monuments.     [Applause  ] 

But  I  do  not  desire  to  speak  of  Cincinnati  altogether  as  she  was  fifty  years 
ago.  I  desire  to  speak  of  Cincinnati  as  she  is  now.  She  is  not  now  a  mere 
cluster  of  log-cabins,  whose  smoke  only  indicates  to  the  emigrant  that  there 
was  a  clearing  or  a  settlement  in  the  far  wilderness.  She  is  now  the  centre  of 
civilization  and  the  gate  of  commerce  and  trade  of  a  vast  region  of  country. 
Her  present  commercial  and  manufacturing  facilities  are  daily  creating  new 
elements  of  power  and  wealth  ;  and  let  me  say  to  you,  Baltimoreans — let  me 
whisper  it  privately  in  your  ears — that  we  of  Cincinnati  are  your  natural  allies 
in  trade  and  commerce.     [Applause  and  cheers.] 

And  aside  from  our  commercial  and  manufacturing  wealth,  there  is  another 
thing  I  would  speak  of  for  a  moment.  We  have  a  system  of  common  schools 
which  is  the  pride  of  the  West.  [Renewed  and  prolonged  applause.]  It  has 
attained  that  degree  of  merit,  that  even  men  of  wealth  turn  aside  from  the 
private  schools,  and  commit  to  their  public  institutions  the  education  of  their 
sons  and  daughters.  We  have,  too,  a  fire  department,  which,  in  its  appoint- 
ment and  in  its  execution,  exceeds  any  thing  in  the  known  world.  [Applause 
and  cheers.]  I  ought  not  omit  a  reference  to  the  progress  which  we  have  made 
in  the  fine  arts. 

But  I  will  not  detain  you  with  any  more  remarks  upon  this  .subject.  Nor 
will  I  detain  you  with  a  reference  to  the  parks  and  puljlic  buildings  of  Cincin- 
nati. But  I  cannot  close  without  presenting  to  you,  and  through  you  to  the  people 
of  Baltimore,  in  behalf  of  the  Cinciunatians  who  are  assembled  around  me  here, 
our  sincere  thanks  for  the  kind  hospitalities  which  you  have  tendered  to  us, 
and  to  express  the  hope  that  we  shall  have  the  opportunity  at  no  distant  day 
to  reciprocate  them,     [Applause  and  repeated  cheers.] 

Mr.  Swann  asked  the  company  to  fill  up  for  another  bumper : 
6.   The  City  of  St.  Louis.     Fair  daughter  of  the  Father  of  Waters.     Joy- 
ously do  we  celebrate  the  nuptials  of  the  beauteous  bride,  whom  our  twenty- 
nine  years  of  wooing  have  won. 
AiK — Marseillaise  Hymn. 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Drake,  of  St.  Louis,  responded  as  follows : 
!Me.  Presidext,  ani>  Friends  of  the  Montoientai^  City  : — The  honora- 
ble duty  of  responding,  on  behalf  of  your  guests  from  the  far  distant  city  of 
St.   Louis,  to  the  sentiment  just  given,  has  been  devolved  by  them  on  mo. 


96  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Well  were  it  for  their  representative,  if,  with  hand  on  heart,  and  with  head 
lowly  bowed,  he  could  be  permitted  silently  to  offer  you  the  grateful  homage 
which  swells  all  our  hearts,  and  impedes  that  utterance  which,  however  and  by 
whomsoever  given,  could  not  rise  to  the  height  of  what  we  have  felt  since  v.e 
became  your  honored  guests,  and  what  we  feel  most  deeply  now,  in  this  hour  of 
your  munificent  and  triumphant  hospitahty.  Well  would  it  be  for  him,  if,  in 
the  midst  of  those  who  have  been  famiUar  with  the  oratory  of  a  Pinckney,  a 
Wirt,  a  McMahon,  and  others  whose  names  and  eloquence  illustrate  your  city, 
he  could  be  spared  a  contrast  which  nothing  less  than  a  call  of  imperious  duty 
could  impel  him  to  brave.  But  this  is  not  the  hour  for  silence.  We  are  here 
to  open  the  floodgates  of  thought  and  feeling,  and  to  speak  with  tongne,  and 
eye,  and  hand — each  heart  bearing  to  every  other  its  grateful  offering  of  fra- 
ternal courtesy  and  regard,  and  taking  from  every  other  a  sure  return  from  its 
exliaustless  treasury.  To  you,  our  hosts,  however,  is  due  the  first  expression 
of  our  feelings  ;  and  to  you,  on  behalf  of  St.  Louis  and  her  citizens  here  assem- 
bled, I  offer  thanks,  warm  thanks — thanks  with  our  hearts  all  in  them :  take 
them,  I  pray  you — they  are  all  we  have  to  give.     [Great  applause.] 

The  events  of  the  past  few  days,  reaching  their  most  befitting  consumma- 
tion in  this  scene  of  unsurpassed  elegance,  may  seem  to  the  superficial  observer 
to  be  merely  the  overflowing  of  a  generous  hospitality  ;  but  to  the  calm  and 
philosophical  inquirer  they  are  full  of  a  higher  and  more  enduring  meaning. 
They  impress  upon  the  face  of  history  the  character  of  the  age  and  country  in 
which  we  live.  The  Old  World  will  read  of  them  as  something  new  and 
strange,  and  will  wake  up  to  the  consciousness  that  Time,  which,  with  them, 
is  old  and  decrepit,  and  in  his  slumberous  senility  evolves  little  which  is 
allowed  to  reach  and  move  the  popular  heart,  is  liere  young  and  powerful  and 
cheerful,  and  ever  and  anon,  in  his  rapid  flight,  throws  off  from  his  resplendent 
wings  events  which  startle  and  delight  for  the  moment,  only  to  prepare  the 
way  for  others  still  more  animating,  remarkable,  and  impressive.  The  simple 
fact  that  we  have,  upon  an  invitation  only  a  few  days  old,  traversed  a  thousand 
miles  of  distance  to  take  you  by  the  hand  and  to  accept  your  hospitality ;  that 
we  have  come  from  the  farther  shore  of  our  great  river  to  meet  you  here  by 
the  waters  of  the  beautiful  Chesapeake  ;  that  in  doing  so  wc  have  traversed 
the  entire  width  of  three  great  States,  which  were  not  States  when  the  Nine- 
teenth Century  was  ushered  into  existence,  but  whose  inhabitants  are  now 
numbered  by  millions ;  that  all  that  distance  has,  as  it  were,  vanished  from 
under  our  feet,  as  the  iron-clad  and  steam-breathing  coursers  swept  with  un- 
flagging power  over  the  trembling  earth  ;  that  from  the  moment  of  farewell 
to  the  queenly  home  we  left,  till  that  of  our  welcome  to  the  almost  regal  hos- 
pitality of  our  scarcely  less  than  home  in  your  midst,  we  neither  saw  nor 
heard  of  custom-house,  or  troops,  or  officials  jealous  of  our  passage,  nor  required 
passport  other  than  tliat  which  lieart  gives  to  heart ;  that  each  particular  foot  and 


CHARLES    A.    DRAKE    SPEAKS    FOR    ST.    LOUIS.  97 

inch  of  the  way  hiy  through  a  land  where  freedom  and  republican  institutions 
slied  their  united  effulgence  down  upon  a  happy  people,  all  speaking  one  tongue, 
all  glorying  in  one  national  name,  all  instinct  with  one  patriotism,  all  emulous 
to  excel  in  devotion  to  one  and  the  same  country ;  that  these  things  can  now 
be  seen,  and  written,  and  spoken  of — what  is  it  but  opening  a  new  pao^e  in 
history?  Where,  when,  by  whom  was  its  like  ever  before  written,  except 
concerning  your  recent  excursion  to  our  own  St.  Louis  ?  Where  else  than  in 
this  land  can  its  like  ever  be  written?  And  for  what  pi'ice  that  earth  could 
offer  would  we  this  daj^  barter  away  that  page  and  its  new  and  resplendent 
glory?     [Loud  and  long  continued  applause.] 

We  come  to  celebrate  a  nuptial  feast !  The  lord  of  the  Chesapeake  weds 
the  fair  daughter  of  the  Father  of  Waters  !  Long  has  he  wooed — at  last  he 
has  won  her.  Started  on  his  journey  toward  her  by  a  hand  trembling  with 
age,  but  which,  in  its  youth,  was  immortalized  by  another  and  a  nobler  work,* 
the  lord  went  forth  to  seek  beneath  the  setting  sun  the  daughter  of  Missouri. 
Slowly,  with  discouragement,  difficulty,  doubt,  and  fatigue,  but  ever  with 
hopeful  heart,  and  patient  endurance,  and  iron  will,  he  wends  his  way  over 
hill  and  mountain  and  valley;  now  ascending  peak  after  peak;  now  de- 
scending slopes  of  rugged  grandeur ;  now  rushing  on  the  verge  of  precipices 
overlooking  an  Alpine  world  ;  now  leaping  yawning  chasms  at  a  bound ;  now 
cutting  through  embattled  rocks,  where  nature  had  enthroned  herself  from  crea- 
tion's natal  hour ;  ever  battling,  but  never  baffled  ;  delayed,  but  not  dismayed ; 
shouting  forth  his  cheerful  song  to  echoes  whose  long  slumbers  had  been  waked 
only  by  the  rolling  voice  of  the  clouds ;  onward,  and  ever  onward  he  moved, 
till  a  generation  had  passed  away,  and  then,  with  a  new  generation  to  witness 
the  august  nuptials,  he  clasps  his  willing  bride  in  his  embrace,  and  binds 
the  union  with  an  iron  knot,  which  the  Ahnighty  may  cut  asunder,  but  man 
can  never.  Joyfully  this  day  do  we  join  hand  and  heart  in  celebrating  with 
you  these  glorious  espousals.  Henceforth  you  and  we  are  no  longer  only 
friends — we  are  brothers.  May  confusion  seize  the  ruthless  hand  that  would 
ever  put  aught  but  brotherly  love  between  you  and  us.    [Applause.] 

But,  my  friends,  leaving  the  figurative,  and  descending  to  the  substantial 
realities  which  belong  to  the  present  circumstances,  what  shall  we,  your  guests, 
say — nay,  what  can  we  say  tliat  would  not  be  trite  and  tame — concerning  the 
great  road  which  has,  after  so  long  a  time,  and  through  so  many  delays,  and 
apparently  almost  insurmountable  trials,  and  at  such  a  vast  expense,  been 
built  ?  Should  we  say  that  you  have,  in  it,  constructed  your  own  noblest  and 
most  enduring  monument  —that  has  been  often  said  before.  Should  we  say 
that  it  is  a  great  bond  of  union  among  the  States  of  this  confederacy — however 

*  The  foundation  stone  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  was  laid  on  the  4th  of  July, 
1S2S,  by  Charles  Cakeoll,  of  CijrrolUon,  the  last  survivor  of  the  Signers  of  the  DecIaraT 
tion  of  Independence. 


98  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

glorious  may  be  the  trath,  and  however  it  may  deserve  to  be  repeated  and 
cherished,  it  has  yet  been  said  a  thousand  times.  Should  we  say  that  along 
this  vast  iron  artery  which  you  have  laid,  commerce  is  to  pursue  her 
beneficent  way  for  untold  years  to  come,  dispensing  countless  blessings  to 
future  generations,  and  glorifying,  while  it  exists,  the  names  of  its  founders,  and 
of  the  noble  city  whose  name  it  bears,  and  of  your  dearly  beloved  State,  we 
should  but  weary  you  with  the  repetition  of  a  truth  which  has  been  spoken 
and  written  unnumbered  times.  But  when  we  say  that  you  have  done  a  work 
which  gave  a  new  impulse  to  ci%alization,  which  belongs  in  its  results  to  the 
world,  and  wliose  benefits  are  not  to  be  confined  to  this  or  that  people,  but  are 
to  be  felt  directly  or  remotely  by  all  nations  with  whom  we  as  a  people  have 
intercourse — we  but  express  the  conviction  thrvt  forced  itself  upon  us  as  we 
looked  for  the  first  time  upon  your  gigantic  and  now  completed  enterprise. 

Wc  confess  that  the  interest  with  which  we  started  on  our  route  from  the 
Ohio  River  to  your  city,  soon  deepened  into  admiration,  and  that,  in  its  turn, 
became  awe,  as  the  reality  forced  itself  upon  us,  that  you  had,  for  all  practical 
purposes  of  transit,  obliterated  the  Alleghanies  from  the  map  of  our  country. 
They  are  there  as  ever,  but  they  are  no  longer  there  as  an  obstacle,  a  hindrance, 
a  barrier.  Their  Altamont,  2,700  feet  above  the  sea,  is  practically  now  no 
higher  than  a  prairie  village  on  the  banks  of  the  Wabash  or  the  Illinois.* 
You  have,  as  it  were,  with  a  huge  claymore,  riven  the  back-bone  of  the  eastern 
portion  of  our  continent  asunder,  that  your  iron  steeds  may  rush  and  snort 
throngh  the  open,  but  not  bleeding,  gash.  It  is  a  mighty  achievement,  before 
which  all  others  of  a  similar  kind  must  be  regarded  as  comparatively  insignifi- 
cant. History  will  ask — we  would  ask  now — from  whose  brain  leaped  forth 
the  thought  of  this  mighty  work  ?  Upon  whose  name  is  destined  to  rest  the 
fadeless  glory  of  its  origin  ?  We  know  not ;  but  whoever  he  is  or  was,  what 
patriot  would  exchange  the  honor  this  work  does  him  for  a  conqueror's  laurels 
or  a  kingly  diadem  ?  If  he  be  not  known,  seek  him  out,  and  record  his  name 
now,  while  his  contemporaries  live,  and  leave  it  not  to  be  buried  beneatli  the 
falling  leaves  of  an  age  that  soon  must  pass  away.  Be  grateful  to  at  least 
one  benefactor  of  the  human  race  !f    [Long-continued  applause.] 

We  should  lose  the  great  lesson  which  this,  your  work,  should  teach  us,  if 
we  failed  to  inquire  and  note  the  characteristics  of  your  people  which  led  to  its 
construction.  As  there  never  was  before  such  an  achievement ;  as  it  stands, 
and  must  stand  out  forever,  not  only  the  pioneer  in  this  land,  but  without 
peer  in  a.nj  land;  as  its  creation  required  an  exhibition  of  man's  power,  such 
as  he  had  not  put  forth  in  all  previous  time ;  it  concerns  us  to  inquire  how, 

*  Altamont  is  the  highest  point  on  the  mountains  reached  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad.    See  page  —  of  tlie  flrst  part  of  this  volume. 

t  Itofer  to  page  —  of  the  History  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road,  in  this  volume, 
which  Mr.  Drake  had  not  read,  or  he  would  have  acknowledged  Philip  E.  Thomas  as  the 
"  benefactor." 


MR.  DRAKE  SPEAKS  OF  THE  BALTIMORE  AND  OHIO  RAILROAD.     99 

and  through  what  channels,  this  power  was  exerted.  It  was  by  concentration, 
action,  and  transformation.  Concentration  of  thought,  purpose,  will,  means, 
and  men — not  futile  and  impotent,  but  quick  with  life,  and  taking  shape  in 
action,  and  that  action  tending,  not  to  rebuild  and  perpetuate  the  old  and 
decayed,  nor  to  hem  in  what  is,  so  that  it  should  never  be  aught  else,  but  to 
transform  it  into  something  better,  and  in  the  transformation  to  make  it  give 
forth  new  qualities,  and  put  forth  new  and  more  exquisite  beauties.  It  is  only 
as  a  people  thus  develop  their  powers,  that  they  march  in  the  way  of  im- 
provement to  the  goal  of  a  substantial  glory.  All  honor  to  Maryland  and  her 
citizens,  for  this  illustrious  example  of  what  concentrated,  transforming  action 
can  accomplish!     [Great  applause.] 

Time's  contrasts  are  powerful  but  humbling  teachers.  We  build  at  vast 
expense,  in  one  generation,  what  comes  in  the  next  to  degradation,  if  not  con- 
tempt. We  suppose  the  achievement  of  to-day  wiU  be  regarded  with  wonder 
in  years  to  come,  and  lo,  to-morrow  almost,  it  is  withered,  beneath  the  blaze 
of  some  more  brilliant  exploit.  A  mighty  government  performs  a  work  too 
great  for  individual  power,  and  soon  individual  power  surpasses  all  that  govern- 
ment wrought  out.  These  thoughts  intruded  upon  the  mind  as  I  read  in  an 
advertisement,  that  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  "  is  located  nearly  upon  the 
line  of  the  old  National  Road."  The  old  National  Road !  What  a  place  in  our 
history  does  that  old  road  occupy  !  What  an  interest  would  its  legislative  his- 
tory not  have  to  political  antiquarians !  How  many  politicians  has  it  not,  in 
years  gone  by,  made  and  unmade  !  Who  can  estimate  the  good  it  did  in  the 
day  of  its  usefulness  ?  .And  who  shall  say  that  that  monument  which  was 
erected  by  its  margin  to  the  then  living  and  glorious  but  now  departed — but  in 
our  hearts  not  the  less  living  and  glorious — statesman  of  Ashland,  was  not 
worthily  erected,  because  already  that  great  structure  is  sinking  from  view 
beneath  the  green  carpet  which  time  spreads  over  the  graves  of  all  men  and 
things  ?  Great  as  it  was  in  its  conception  and  execution  for  the  period  in 
which  it  was  called  into  existence,  it  lies  before  us  now,  presenting  one  of 
time's  most  striking  contrasts,  rebuking  man's  self-sufficiency  and  pride,  and 
pointing  ever  to  that  mightier  work  which  you  of  Maryland  have  accomplished, 
and  over  which,  with  you,  we  this  day  rejoice.  Was  it  not  this  old  National 
Road  which  was  in  the  poetic  fancy  of  our  American  artist-poet,  when  he  sang 
in  tuneful  numbers  the  i-eqiiiem  of  the  Deserted  Road? 

"Ancient  highway,  thou  art  vanquished; 
The  usurper  of  the  vale 
Rolls  in  fiery,  iron  rattle, 
Exultations  on  the  gale. 

"Thou  art  vanquished  and  neglceted  ; 
But  the  good  which  thou  hast  done. 
Though  by  man  it  be  forgotten, 
Shall  be  deathless  as  the  sun." 


100         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

But  where  would  the  mind  repose,  if  we  followed  the  streams  of  thought 
which  spring  forth,  as  we  yield  ourselves  up  to  the  contemplation  of  your 
great  work,  and  the  fame  with  which  it  has  crowned  your  city  and  your  State  ? 
Were  these  festivities  prolonged  beyond  the  hours  of  the  passing  day,  and 
every  moment  devoted  to  the  rapid  enunciation  of  those  thoughts,  time  would 
yet  be  wanting  to  utter  the  half  that  might  be  told.  We  would  speak,  too,  of 
the  consecrated  dust  which  sleeps  beneath  the  storied  marble  that  daily  meets 
your  eyes ;  we  would  refer  more  fully  to  your  illustrious  dead  and  your  scarcely 
less  illustrious  living ;  we  would  rejoice  to  dwell  on  much  of  all  that  makes 
Maryland  the  beloved  and  cherished  Mary  of  our  national  family ;  but  the 
voice  of  the  bride  must  not  now  be  heard  too  long  in  the  halls  of  the  bride- 
groom.    [Hearty  applause.] 

Here,  however,  in  sight  of  the  noble  structure  erected  by  your  State  to  the 
Father  of  his  Country ;  in  the  region  of  his  exploits ;  with  the  city  near  by 
which  bears  his  august  name  ;  with  soil  all  around  you  consecrated  by  the 
blood  of  our  common  ancestors ;  here,  this  day,  before  the  world — ay,  and 
before  angels  and  Heaven  itself — we  adjure  you  to  bind  yourselves  to  us  and  to 
all  who  share  our  lineage,  our  country,  and  our  hopes,  to  preserve,  protect,  and 
defend,  with  lives,  with  fortunes,  and  with  sacred  honor,  the  Union  of  these 
States,  now,  hereafter,  and  forever.  This  there  is  time  to  say  —this  there  were 
time  to  say  though  death  were  at  the  door — this  we  of  St.  Louis  will  say,  till 
the  last  drop  of  our  mighty  river  is  lost  in  its  green  ocean  grave. 

After  the  hearty  applause  following  this  speech,  the  next  toast  was 
read: 

7.  The  Prosperity  of  the  Great  West. — The  rainbow  which  the  city  of  Balti- 
more rejoices  to  behold. 

"  In  it  she  sees  tlio  joys  of  coming  years, 
Before  whose  heavenly  hues  all  darkness  disappears." 

Air — Swift  as  the  Flask. 

Dr.  H.  "Willis  Baxley,  of  Baltimore,  being  called  on  to  respond, 
spoke  as  follows : 

I  regret  that  the  absence  of  another  has  devolved  upon  me  the  task  of 
replying  to  this  toast.  But  the  sentiment  it  announces  is  the  sentiment  of 
Baltimore,  and  as  such  should  not  fail  of  public  endorsement  by  one  of 
her  sons.  True,  there  are  circumstances  which  should  absolve  me,  person- 
ally, from  this  duty;  but  the  obligation  of  hospitality,  at  all  times,  and  in  all 
places,  one  of  religion,  requires  that  this  sentiment,  especially,  should  not  pass 
as  if  indifferently  entertained.  As  a  member  of  the  committee  who  presented 
it,  and  one  often  and  most  flatteringly  distinguished  by  western  kindness,  I 
will  say,  that  sincerely  do  our  fellow-citizens  rejoice  in  the  prosperity  of  the 
Great  West.  Nor  does  that  joy  flow  merely  from  selfish  into  ests  promoted 
thereby,  through  the  great  central  channel,  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroud, 


DR.  BAXLEY  UPON  THE  PROSPERITY  OF  THE  WEST.     101 

justly  considered  the  direct  and  main  arterial  trunk,  arising  from  the  agricultural 
heart  of  the  North  American  Continent,  the  geographical  centre  of  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley.  It  is  so  natural  in  contemplating  good  fortune,  to  indulge  in  self- 
gratulation,  that  we  would  not  seem  to  imply,  much  less  profess  indifference  to 
ours,  by  failing  to  recognize  and  acknowledge  the  great  advantages  which  must 
come  directly,  and  in  a  commercial  alike  with  social  sense,  from  the  com- 
mand of  the  shortest  and  most  expeditious  avenue  to  that  immense  source  of 
production  and  supply ;  an  avenue  which  follows  most  nearly  the  national  high- 
way indicated  by  AVashington ;  which  was  mapped  and  chartered  by  Nature 
herself,  and  adopted  by  the  wisdom  of  our  forefathers — an  Appian  Way  of  the 
States,  East  and  West.  '\\'hilst  recognizing  this  truth,  we  would,  however,  on 
this  national  occasion,  proclaim  what  we  feel — a  philanthropy  above  profit ;  a 
patriotism  not  restrained  by  merely  selfish  and  mercenary  calculation.  And 
looking  beyond  local  interests  to  the  broader  field  of  human  good,  we  rejoice 
at  that  western  prosperity,  which,  however  palpably  recognized,  yet  can  retain 
no  mere  sectional  centralization,  but  must  radiate  its  beneficent  influences  over 
the  broad  expanse  of  our  own  and  other  lauds.  At  that  prosperity  which 
comes  of  inexhaustible  soil  and  genial  climate  ;  of  industry,  fragality,  enter- 
prise, morality,  sources  of  knowledge,  and  of  the  mingling  of  civilized  nation- 
alities and  races,  through  immigration — that  problem  of  moral  grandeur,  which 
seems  to  have  been  reserved  for  a  sublime  demonstration  on  this  greatest  and 
appropriate  theatre  of  physical  nature,  and  finding  a  fit  type  of  its  power  and 
effects  in  that  mighty  river,  which,  having  its  source  in  the  frozen  regions  of 
the  North,  receives  the  tribute  of  every  clime  to  swell  the  stream  that  bathes 
the  limits  of  Empire  States,  as  it  flows  onward  to  the  sunny  seas  of  the  tropics, 
dispensing  the  blessings  of  civilization  and  commerce  to  all.    [Applause.] 

In  this  career  of  prosperity,  not  merely  ours,  but  the  sympathies  and  the 
hopes  of  nations  are  with  the  great  West,  for  the  people  of  these  nations  are  of 
the  West,  and  for  it  ;  not  merely  with  idle  commendation,  but  in  the  power  of 
industrial  effort,  mechanical  and  manufacturing  skill,  and  progressive  science. 
The  oppressors  of  the  old  world  may  frown,  their  sycophants  may  sneer,  but  ' 
they  are  alike  powerless,  however  they  may  combine  and  plan,  to  retard  the 
progress  of  the  sublime  experiment  of  popular  sovereignty  and  happiness, 
which  is  now  in  process  of  fulfilment ;  and  which  the  West,  if  it  remain  true 
to  its  immense  resources,  its  privileges  of  position,  its  balance-power,  and  its 
fealty  to  a  greater  than  England's  great  charter,  the  Constitution  of  this  Union 
— for  it  guarantees  the  rights  of  States  as  well  as  of  individuals — if  true  to 
these,  the  Great  West  will  continue  to  present  its  sublime  career  to  the  nations 
of  the  earth  as  a  covenant  of  political  promise,  a  "  rainbow  "  which  all  wiU  re- 
joice to  behold  ;  for,  in  the  language  of  the  toast, 

"  In  it  we  see  the  joys  of  comins:  years. 
Before  whose  heavenly  hues  all  darkness  disappears." 


102         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO   THE    EAST. 

8.  Washington. — Let  his  memory  at  each  recurring  dawn  receive  the  hom- 
age of  his  countrymen,  as  yonder  monnment  the  sun  at  its  coming ;  whilst  pa- 
triotism, glowing  with  warmer  effulgence,  as  the  vesper  hymn  salutes  the 
evening  air,  shall  liken  the  parting  beam  that  pencils  his  marble  brow  with 

the  diadem  of  immortality. 

Air —  Wa^hingtorCs  March. 

Judge  Z.  C.  Lee,  of  Baltimore,  being  loudly  called  for,  in  response 
to  the  8th  toast,  said  : 

We  bail,  Mr.  President  and  gentlemen,  with  a  sincere  welcome,  our  friends 
and  brethren  from  the  West.  That  welcome  has  greeted  them  everywhere  : 
around  the  gorges  of  the  mountains  and  througli  the  green  valleys  they  have 
passed ;  music,  banners,  and  woman's  smiles  have  heralded  them  to  our  city, 
and  here  we  indeed  hail  them  as  our  guests.  It  is  not,  however,  as  citizens  of 
Missouri,  Ohio,  and  the  West,  that  we  honor  them,  but  because  they  are  our 
fellow-citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  to-day,  at  this  festive  board,  we  meet 
with  them  to  rekindle  on  our  coimtry's  altar  the  fires  of  patriotism  and  the 
love  of  union,  which,  more  than  eighty  years  ago,  our  fathers  lighted  up,  and 
to  pledge  to  each  other  the  determination  to  guard,  with  vestal  vigilance  and 
more  than  Roman  constancy,  the  sacred  flame  which  burns  on  that  altar  of 
the  Union.  Extinguish  this  (for  through  bloodshed  and  civil  war  it  can  alone 
be  done),  put  out  the  glorious  light,  and  what  power  on  earth  can  restore  it  ? 
[Applause.] 

"  I  know  not  where  is  the  Promethean  heat  that  can  this  light  relume." 

Our  Republic  (as  has  been  well  said)  now  extends  across  the  whole  conti- 
nent. The  two  great  oceans  of  the  globe  wash  its  Atlantic  and  Pacific  shores, 
and  we  realize  the  poetical  description  of  the  ornamental  edging  of  the  shield 
of  Achilles : 

"  Now  the  broad  shield  complete  the  artist  crowned 
With  his  last  band  and  poured  the  ocean  round, 
In  living  silver  seemed  the  waves  to  roll, 
And  beat  the  buckler's  verge  and  bound  the  whole." 

So  appears  our  country  and  our  Union  ;  may  it  be  perpetual ! 

It  was  my  good  fortune  to  visit  lately,  as  one  of  their  guests,  the  great 
cities  whose  representatives  are  now  here.  On  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  and  the 
Mississippi,  I  beheld  with  astonishment  and  admiration  the  evidences  of  their 
progress,  wealth,  and  power — palaces  of  merchant  princes,  public  institutions 
of  arts  and  charity  met  the  eye  on  every  hand.  Not  a  wave  that  broke  on 
their  shores  but  bore  the  emblems  of  their  commerce  and  trade — not  a  sound 
that  wukc  with  the  morning's  sun  but  brought  to  the  ear  the  hum  of  busy  in- 
dustry from  their  worksjiops  and  manufiictories.  And,  standing  on  the  banks 
of  the  great  Father  of  Waters,  1  asked  myself  the  question — Is  there  a  faction 


JODGE  LEE  RESPONDS  TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  WASHINGTON.        103 

or  a  pai-tr  in  tliis  broad  land  which  can  ever  dare  to  contemplate,  or  imagine, 
a  disunion  of  these  States  ? — whose  cities  stand  here  like  bright  sentinels  with 
fla.ming  swords  to  guard  from  treason  and  violence  this  Paradise  our  heroic 
fathers  established  with  their  blood — whose  noble  rivers,  commingling  in  har- 
mony, together  flow  on — becoming  wider,  deeper,  and  purer  as  they  appi-oach 
the  ocean — fit  emblems  of  our  country's  power  and  destiny.  The  Potomac, 
the  Patapsco,  the  Ohie,  the  Missom-i,  and  the  Mississippi,  can  never  bear  up;jn 
their  bosoms  any  banner  but  that  of  the  Union;  nor  can  the  day  ever  come, 
as  we  fondly  hope,  when  their  waters  shall  be  crimsoned  with  fraternal  blood. 
The  bad  man  is  not  yet  bom  who  can  successfully  rally  to  his  standard  traitors 
ejiongh  to  foiin  a  corporal's  guard ;  so  long  as  we,  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  have  the  spirit  to  be  free  and  the  virtue  to  be  just.     [Applause.] 

Two  revolutions  have  occurred  within  the  memory  of  some  who  yet  sur- 
vive. The  American  and  the  French — the  former  vindicated  the  rights  of 
man  without  crime  and  outrage ;  the  latter  asserted  human  freedom,  but  del- 
nged  the  world  in  blood,  and  buried  liberty  and  religion  beneath  the  ruins  of 
the  very  despotism  which  had  oppressed  them. 

From  the  one  rose  the  majestic  form  and  glorious  character  of  Washino-ton 
as  the  brightest  living  model  of  a  citizen  and  a  patriot ;  from  the  other  the 
warlike  and  imperial  figure  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  an  example  of  human  ele- 
vation without  patriotism  and  virtue.  The  conqueror  of  Europe  and  the  cap- 
tive of  St.  Helena  survived  the  Father  of  his  Country ;  chained  to  his  island 
rock  he  expired  crownless  and  abandoned.  Washington  breathed  his  last  upon 
the  bosom  of  that  beloved  country  he  had  redeemed,  and  closing  his  own  eyes 
in  peace,  died  as  he  had  lived,  without  fear  and  without  reproach.  And 
although  his  bones  repose  not  beneath  the  gorgeous  temple  of  the  Invalids,  and 
■were  borne  with  no  imperial  ceremonies  to  the  tomb,  yet  they  are  canonized 
by  a  nation's  gratitude,  and  have  a  monument  more  enduring,  we  may  trust, 
than  yonder  column  ;  that  monument  is  the  Constitution  and  Union  of  these 
States.  Maryland  will  preserve  it  until  its  last  armed  foe  expires.  What  say 
you,  men  of  the  great  West?     [Enthusiastic  Applause.] 

But  in  our  efforts  to  maiutaiti  the  happj'  Union  under  which  we  live,  let  us 
invoke  the  aid  of  religion  and  education — tlie  school-house  and  the  church  can 
do  much  to  retard  the  feajfiil  stream  of  vice  and  insubordination  which  is 
sweeping  through  o<ir  land.  A  spirit  of  order  and  obedience  to  law  should  be 
inculcated  and  enforced — social  and  political  virtue  revived  and  rewarded — 
men  of  uitegrity  and  truth  placed  by  popular  suffrage  in  places  of  power  and 
trust,  and  thus  shall  we  realize,  sir,  the  fond  and  anxious  wishes  of  the  im- 
mortal Washington,  who,  in  his  farewell  address,  implores  his  countrymen  to 
cultivate  sentiments  of  affection  and  good  will  between  the  different  parts  of  the 
Union,  and  impress  upon  our  children  the  importance  and  value  of  civil  liberty, 
which  can  alone  flourish  where  that  liberty  is  regulated  by  law. 


104         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

But  it  is  not  my  purpose  to  dwell  on  this  interesting  theme — this  is  not  the 
occasion ;  and  I  have  only  to  add,  that  these  meetings  of  citizens  from  distant 
sections  of  our  country  should  he  recognized  as  happy  auguries  of  our  future 
undivided  brothei-hood  and  our  national  spirit.     [Applause.] 

In  1775,  Mr.  President,  there  was  a  tea  party  in  Boston,  where  were  as- 
sembled the  patriots  of  Massachusetts.  No  feast  like  this  was  spread  before 
them — aromid  and  over  their  banquet  no  banners  waved  and  bright  eyes 
flashed,  as  here  to-day,  to  greet  them.  At  that  revolutionary  banquet,  which 
they  opened,  their  music  was  the  cannon's  roar ;  the  wine  they  tasted  was  not 
this,  nor  the  sparkling  champagne,  but  wine  from  that  grape  whose  juice  was 
the  red  blood,  for  the  battle-field  and  the  conflict  then  commenced  was  termi- 
nated only  on  the  plains  of  Yorktown.  I,  therefore,  in  remembrance  of  that 
banquet  of  valor  and  patriotism,  give  you,  for  their  descendants  here  to-day, 
to  drink  with  flowing  bowls,  this  sentiment,  with  the  hope  that  the  spirit  of  our 
fathers  may  be  cherished  by  us  all,  be  we  citizens  of  the  North,  the  South,  the 
East,  or  the  West : 

The  Spirit  of  1776 — Which  animated  our  fathers  at  their  tea  party  in  Bos- 
ton, where  they  preferred  the  Gunpowder  to  the  Imperial.     [Applause.] 

After  music  by  the  band,  the  ninth  toast  was  announced,  and  LieuL 
Mullen,  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  was  called  upon  to  respond  : 

9.  TTie  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States — With  them  the  honor  of  that 
flag  which  genius,  alike  with  liberty,  has  consecrated,  will  ever  remain  un- 
tarnished. Air — Yankee  Doodle. 

Lieut.  Mullen  said : 

Mr. 'President  :  In  responding  to  this  toast,  it  may  not  be  inappropriate 
for  me  to  remark  that  this  is  an  occasion  in  which  the  citizens  of  Baltimore, 
and  the  gentlemen  of  the  great  West,  may  not  only  congratulate  themselves, 
but  which  we,  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  also  have  a  right  to  feel  proud  in  being 
permitted  to  commemorate.  And  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  toast  which 
you  have  just  read  meets  a  hearty  response  in  everj-  heart  here  this  evening. 
We  have  assembled  to  commemorate  an  occasion  which  has  been  characterized 
by  a  degree  of  no  ordinary  importance  ;  and  it  is  one  in  which,  as  citizens  of 
Baltimore,  and  as  representatives  of  the  West,  you  all,  and  I  may  say,  myself, 
feel  doubly  proud ;  for,  gentlemen  of  the  West,  I  welcome  you  here  to  Balti- 
more to-day,  in  the  double  capacity  of  a  soldier  and  a  Mai-ylander.  You  are 
welcome  ;  and  when  I  say  that,  I  but  repeat  the  sentiment  of  the  profession 
which  I,  myself,  humbly  represent  here  this  evening. 

You  have  been  cordially  welcomed  to  the  city  of  monuments,  in  behalf  of 
the  Marylanders    here  this  evening,  by  the  Demosthenes  of  Baltimore,  W. 


THE    U,    S.    ARMY    SPEAKS    THROUGH    LIEUT.    MULLEN.  105 

Pinkney  Whyte,  but  I  must  again  welcome  you,  cominj;  as  you  do,  from  a 
section  of  country  in  which  the  profession  I  represent  has  heretofore  played  so 
conspicuous  a  part.  You,  gentlemen,  are  not  strangers  to  the  times  that  are 
past — the  stirring  times  of  peril,  and  those  days  "  that  tried  men's  souls  ;  "  hut 
in  the  halcyon  days  of  the  future,  this  will  be  an  occasion  to  be  looked  back 
upon  with  pride  and  pleasure,  after  you  return  to  your  hospitable  homes  It 
is  to  the  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  particularly,  that  I  address  the  present  remarks. 
I  can  never  cease  to  remember  with  the  warmest  emotions  of  gratitude,  the 
kind  and  hospitable  reception  which  I  met  with  when  sent  out  as  one  of  the 
emissaries  of  the  Department,  that  represents  the  country  at  large,  to  survey 
the  route  for  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific.  We  were  not  looking  to  advance  the 
interests  of  any  one  section  of  the  country  in  preference  to  another,  but  to 
gather  the  facts  upon  which  a  great  national  work  might  be  built.  We  were 
not  hostile  to  a  Northern  route,  although  by  nativity  and  education,  I  should 
have  preferred  a  central  route,  but  we  determined  not  to  represent  a  northern 
nor  a  central,  but  a  national  railroad  route  to  the  Pacific.     [Applause.] 

And  you,  gentlemen,  are  this  evening  called  upon  to  commemorate  an  oc- 
casion of  no  ordinary  importance.  The  rocky  hills  through  which  you  passed 
but  a  few  days  ago,  echo  and  re-echo  from  day  to  day  in  praise  of  the  enter- 
prise, and  skill,  and  success  of  a  few  Baltimoreans  who  undertook  a  project  that 
was  then  regarded  as  a  mere  chimera  and  utterly  impossible,  but  which  has 
been  brought  to  a  successful  termination,  as  has  been  proved  by  your  own  visit 
to  Baltimore  this  evening.  You  are  here  to  commemorate  an  occasion  in 
which  science  has  battled  with  the  difficulties  of  nature  and  has  overcome  them  ; 
she  has  made  a  gap  through  the  AUeghanies,  and  connected  the  fertile  valleys 
of  the  West  with  the  great  cities  of  the  seaboard.  We  have  reason  to  be  proud 
of  such  an  achievement,  and  I  must  again  express  the  pleasure  it  gives  me  to 
find  that  the  profession  which  I  represent  is  held  in  high  and  honorable  esteem 
among  you,  and  is  not  regarded  as  a  mere  excrescence  upon  the  body  politic ; 
but  we  are  afforded  an  opportunity  to  say  to  you  that  we  are  ready,  and  willing, 
and  anxious  to  prove  that  the  flag  wliich  you  have  alluded  to  shall  ever  be  un- 
tarnished while  in  our  keeping.     [Hearty  applause.] 

The  tenth  regular  toast  was  then  announced  : 

10.  The  Baltimore  and  Mississippi  Railroad — The  iron  key  which  has  un- 
locked our  front  door.  In  future,  friends  of  the  West,  as  now,  you  will  find 
"  on  our  table  a  plate,  knife  and  fork,  and  the  string  of  the  latch  not  pulled  iu." 

Air — Old  Folks  at  llome. 

To  this  toast,  Hon.  Thomas  Svvann,  Mayor  of  Baltimore,  being 
loudly  called  for,  responded  as  follows : 

5* 


106  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Great  West  :  I  regret  to  say  that  the  gentleman 
■who  was  expected  to  reply  to  the  toast  which  has  just  been  read  (Wm.  Den- 
nison,  Jr.,  of  Columbus,  Ohio),  is  unavoidably  absent.  I  did  not  expect  to 
make  a  speech  in  his  place,  and  I  could  have  wished  that  my  friends  had  not 
been  so  urgent  in  their  calls  upon  me,  for  I  have  been  assigned  a  far  more 
agreeable  duty. 

An  old  friend  of  mine  in  Virginia — a  barrister  of  some  note — was  once 
loudly  called  for  on  an  occasion  similar  to  the  present.  "  Gentlemen,"  said  he, 
"you  have  placed  yourselves  at  my  mercy — ^you  have  invited  me  to  make  a 
speech,  and  courtesy  requires  that  you  should  hear  me  through.  Now,  I 
know  of  no  better  mode  in  which  I  can  make  you  a  substantial  return  for 
your  kindness,  than  to  take  my  seat  and  say  nothing  "  (cries  of  no,  no ;  go 
on;  go  on!)  This  was  a  better  speech,  in  my  judgment,  than  Logan  ever 
made,  Mr.  Jefferson  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  It  was  a  sensible 
speech ;  it  was  a  practical  speech.  My  first  impulse  would  have  been  to 
have  followed  the  example  of  my  friend  the  barrister,  and  after  thanking  you, 
quietly  taking  my  seat  (cries  of  no !  no !)  ;  but  how  can  I  remain  silent  in 
the  midst  of  a  scene  like  this  ?  There  are  gentlemen  present  who  have  come 
a  thousand  miles  to  do  us  honor.  The  great  West  is  presented  here  to-night. 
No  Baltiniorean  can  look  upon  such  a  scene  without  emotion,  much  less  one 
who  has  been  deputed  to  stand  in  the  first  rank  to  dispense  the  offices  of  hos- 
pitality for  this  goodly  city.  This  is  my  excuse  for  intruding  upon  your  time 
in  responding  to  the  call  which  has  been  made  upon  me.  Besides,  I  have  to 
answer  to  my  constituency  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  for  the  manner  in  which 
you  are  entertained  here,  and  received  here,  upon  the  soil  of  the  old  State  of 
Maryland ;  and  you  will  permit  me  to  say,  that  when  you  touched  the  soil  of 
that  State,  you  came  to  the  embrace  of  warm  hearts — of  men  who  felt  a  real 
pleasure  in  receiving  you — of  men  who  understood  and  appreciated  your  posi- 
tion in  the  Great  West,  and  the  relation  in  which  you  stood  towards  the  social 
and  commercial  interests  of  the  city  of  Baltimore.     [Applause.] 

They  recognized  in  you  participants  in  that  common  trade,  and  in  that 
grand  combination  of  commercial  interchange,  into  which  they  had  entered 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  forward  and  illustrating  the  views  upon  which 
they  had  been  acting  for  the  lust  quarter  of  a  century.  The  distinguished  gen- 
tleman on  my  right  (Gov.  Chase),  in  his  remarks  when  our  guests  from  the 
West  were  received  on  Saturday  last,  took  occasion  to  say,  that  the  triumph  of 
the  State  of  Maryland — in  the  maintenance  of  her  credit  in  the  midst  of 
such  stupendous  undertakings — in  the  accomplishment  of  her  great  financial 
plans — had  established  for  her  a  monument  more  durable  than  the  gig;intic 
line  of  railway  over  which  you  have  passed,  from  the  confines  of  his  own 
State,  and  to  which  we  are  indebted  for  your  presence  here  to-ni^ht.  That 
remark  was  as  beautiful  as  it  was  just.     The  first  effort  of  the  city  of  Balti- 


THOMAS    PAVAKN's    BANQUET    SPEECH.  107 

more,  as  of  the  State  of  Maryland,  has  been  to  guard,  at  all  sacrifices,  that 
credit,  upon  which  we  have  been  enabled  to  accomplish,  without  aid  from  any 
quarter,  those  works  of  interaal  improvement,  which  have  not  only  attracted 
the  interest  of  our  own  State,  but  have  awakened  the  attention  of  all  the 
States  of  this  Union.  [Applause.]  The  history  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  depending,  as  she  did,  upon  the  limited  power  and  resources  of  her 
own  little  State,  furnishes  an  example  to  the  States  whose  public  works  are 
still  undeveloped.  That  example,  gentlemen  of  St.  Louis,  you  have  nobly 
imitated  in  the  completion  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Road.  You  have  in- 
deed "  unlocked  our  front  door,"  and  the  scene  before  you  to-night  is  evidence 
that  you  have  not  miscalculated  the  kind  sympathies  of  our  people,  or  the 
advantages  to  which  you  have  been  looking  in  your  well-directed  efforts. 

The  maintenance  of  our  State  credit — the  credit  of  our  pubUc  works  upon 
which  so  much  depends — has  enabled  us  to  pass,  with  unfaltering  step,  through 
the  trying  scenes  of  the  last  ten  years.  It  has  truly  built  up  a  name  for  the 
State  of  Marj'land  of  which  she  has  just  reason  to  be  proud — a  name  which 
will  enable  her  in  time  to  come,  not  only  to  complete  what  is  yet  unfinished, 
but  to  enter  upon  enterprises  yet  to  be  conceived ;  and  to  cheer  on,  by  her  ex- 
ample, our  brethren  of  the  Great  West,  in  extending  that  stupendous  line  of 
communication,  which  is  to  terminate  only  upon  the  distant  shores  of  the 
Pacific.     [Great  applause.] 

Gentlemen,  we  have  already  gone  beyond  the  limits  of  the  State  of  Mary- 
land in  the  distribution  of  our  capital,  and  in  furtherance  of  the  system  upon 
which  we  have  been  acting.  We  have  not  only  accomplished — successfully 
accomplished — the  works  of  internal  impi-ovemeut  which  have  devolved  upon 
us  within  our  own  limits,  but  we  have  aided  our  friends  in  Ohio,  and  we  have 
lent  a  helping-hand  to  improvements  which  have  crossed  the  contiguous  States 
of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania.  We  have  been  jealous  of  the  Western  trade. 
We  did  not  choose  that  any  power  should  wrest  it  from  us.  We  have  been 
exerting  all  our  efforts,  for  years  past,  for  the  purpose  of  opening  a  direct 
communication  with  the  great  cities  of  the  West,  which  we  are  here  to-night 
to  welcome  ;  and  to  invite  to  that  cordial  union  which  has  been  inaugurated 
by  the  opening  of  the  American  central  line.  [Applause.]  These  objects,  so 
necessary  to  our  successful  development,  have  been  kept  steadily  in  view — 
and  the  State  of  Maryland  has  not  been  wanting  in  what  may  have  been  ex- 
pected of  her  in  carrying  out  plans,  which  have  redounded  so  largely  not  only 
to  her  own  credit,  but  of  the  whole  Union,  from  east  to  west,  and  I  may  add, 
from  north  to  south.  It  is  known  that  we  occupy  a  middle  ground ;  that  we 
are  the  connecting  link  between  these  remote  sections.  It  is  known  that, 
when  there  has  been  talk  of  disunion  in  some  quarters,  the  State  of  Maryland 
has  stood  up,  as  she  will  ever  do,  the  fast  friend  of  the  Constitution.  [Ap- 
plause.]    She  has  stood  up  under  the  folds  of  that  star-spangled  banner,  which 


108  EXCURSION   OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

is  the  symbol  of  freedom  and  constitutional  liberty,  not  only  in  our  own  glo- 
rious land,  but  throughout  the  world.     [Renewed  applause.] 

Gentlemen,  I  am  glad  to  meet  you  here  to-night.  You  come  at  an  oppor- 
tune moment,  to  afford  us  the  gratification  of  reciprocating  a  courtesy  which 
was  extended  to  us  on  a  recent  occasion.  'ITie  visit  of  our  people  to  their 
Western  brethren  cannot  soon  be  forgotten.  I  have  heard  something,  from 
yourselves,  of  the  inadequacy  of  your  preparations  ;  but  I  tell  you  that  I  was 
there  in  your  midst ;  and  a  more  generous — a  more  whole-souled — a  more 
hospitable  reception  could  not  be  extended  to  any  people,  than  that  which 
was  extended  to  the  people  of  Baltimore  during  that  great  celebratioa  Gen- 
tlemen, we  feel  grateful  for  your  kindness,  and  I  am  most  happy  here  to-night 
as  the  representative  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  responsible  to  the  people  of 
Baltimore,  and  knowing  full  well  what  I  have  to  encounter  if  I  omit  any  thing 
in  that  programme  which  has  been  prepared  for  your  comfort  and  your  pleas- 
ure— I  am  most  happy  to  greet  you,  and  to  receive  you  as  brothers ;  and  in 
the  absence  of  the  Governor  of  the  State,  to  tender  to  you  the  hospitalities  of 
the  State  of  Marj'land ;  and  to  say  to  you,  that,  whenever  you  may  come 
among  us,  in  the  language  of  the  sentiment  which  has  just  been  announced, 
you  will  find  our  hearts  open,  "  on  our  table  a  plate,  knife  and  fork,  and  the 
latch  not  puUed  in."     [Great  applause.] 

After  further  music  from  the  band  Mayor  Swann  again  arose  and 
remarked, 

That  the  Committee  were  pleased  to  have  among  them,  on  the  present  oc- 
casion, a  large  delegation  from  the  Federal  city,  and  he  hoped  that  they 
would  be  heard.  These  gentlemen  had  visited  the  city  of  Baltimore  for  the 
purpose  of  extending  a  hearty  invitation  to  the  friends  from  the  far  West  to  go 
over  and  see  the  National  Metropolis,  and  one  of  their  representatives  on  his 
left  would  be  called  upon  to  addi'ess  them.  He  begged  to  introduce  Mr.  John 
T.  Smith,  of  Washington  City. 

Mr.  Smith  arose,  and  in  a  few  humorous  remarks  alluded  to  the 
pleasure  whicli  he  and  his  fellow- Washingtonians  experienced  in  meet- 
ing with  such  a  host  of  genial  spirits  apparently  from  every  State, 
though  mostly  from  the  West. 

He  would,  in  the  most  earnest  manner,  tender  to  the  western  visitors 
and  the  official  committees  of  Baltimore,  an  invitation  to  proceed  to  Wash- 
ington, in  the  special  train  of  the  next  morning,  and  assured  them  they 
would  find  a  national  reception.  He  read  an  official  telegraphic  dispatch 
just  received,  which  stated  that  the  authorities  and  citizens  of  Washington 
would  expect  them.  At  nine  o'clock  they  would  visit  the  President,  then  the 
Capitol,  Patent  Office,    Smithsonian   Institute,   Washington    Monument,   and 


INVITATION  TO  VISIT  WASHINGTON COL.  CARRINGTON'S  SPEECH.   109 

proceed  in  a  steamer  as  far  as  Fort  Washington  and  Mount  Vernon,  stopping 
at  the  latter  place  to  view  the  grave  of  the  Father  of  his  Country.  Upon 
returning  they  would  partake  of  a  collation  at  Carusi's  saloon,  and  remain  at 
Washington  until  Wednesday  morning. 

This  announcement  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm. 
The  following  sentiment  was  then  read  by  the  chair  : 

The  Governor  of  Ohio  and  his  Staff:  a  staff  that  any  Commonwealth  in  the 
United  States  may  be  proud  to  lean  upon. 

Col.  Carrington,  Judge  Advocate  General,  of  Ohio,  acting  as  one  of 
the  Governor's  Aids,  responded  on  behalf  of  the  Governor  and  Staff: 

Accepting  the  compliment  as  one  of  the  numberless  civiUties  with  which  the 
city  of  Baltimore  had  gladdened  the  hearts  of  their  guests,  now  no  longer 
strangers,  but  recipients,  even  of  their  very  fire-side  favors,  he  said  he  must 
still  plead  inability  to  reply  in  terms  corresponding  to  the  delicacy  of  the  sen- 
timent uttered.  It  was  like  the  occasion  itself,  so  replete  with  generous  over- 
tures, that  the  spirit  sank  under  the  weight  of  obligation,  and  silence  became 
the  most  significant  response.  Words  failed  to  measure  the  offering  the  heart 
would  pay. 

But  there  was,  in  the  gathering  of  so  many,  from  so  far-distant  States,  one 
pregnant  circumstance,  which  would  make  the  occasion  more  celebrated  than 
even  Baltimore  hospitality  itself.  Those  present  had  been  whirled  over  State 
boundaries  and  past  sectional  lines  without  a  conscious  jar,  or  a  single  suspicion 
that  everyichere  they  went,  was  not  their  native  soil.     [Applause.] 

Strange  features,  indeed,  were  seen  ;  but  all  were  enlivened  by  the  same 
fraternal  smile,  and  bespoke  a  common  joy  and  welcome.  Space  had  not  been 
annihilated  without  good  cause.  States  had  actually  lost  territorial  definition, 
when  crossed  by  an  unbroken  track ;  and  the  u-hole  Uniox  was  fast  becoming 
the  unit  standard  by  ■which  to  measure  space,  and  not  the  narrow  bounds  of 
States. 

He  would  not  be  pardonable,  at  so  late  an  hour,  to  venture  upon  a  speech. 
Only  the  compliment  extended  called  him  forth,  while  so  many  senior  and  abler 
guests  still  waited  by  the  festive  board.  He  would,  however,  give  a  sentiment 
which  the  trip  had  made  significant,  and  which  was  no  less  worthy  of  the  social 
hour  : — The  continuous  rail :  destined  to  unite  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific.  Its  pur- 
pose :  commercial  Union.  Its  locomotive  power  :  a  cordial  fraternity  and 
general  self-respect.     Its  end  :  one  common  destiny. 

Joseph  H.  Rieman,  of  Baltimore,  offered  the  following  volunteer 
toast : 

The  Cincinnati  Chamber  of  Commerce — the  pioneer  of  "Western  mercantile 
interest,  and  a  model  of  integrity,  intelligence,  energy  and  activity — the  neces- 
sary elements  of  commercial  success. 

Mr.  Graham,  of  Cincinnati,  was  here  loudly  called  for,  and  in 
responding  to  the  sentiment  made  an  excellent  speech. 

He  alluded  to  the  enterprising  railroad  spirit  which  the  citizens  of  Balti- 


110         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

more  had  ever  evinced  since  the  great  undertaking  of  connecting  the  cities  of 
the  West  by  one  continuous  Une  of  railway,  and  stated  that  tlie  citizens  of  Cin- 
cinnati, imitating  the  example,  were  also  ardently  engaged  in  the  good  work. 
He  deeply  regretted  that  all  the  members  of  the  Cincinnati  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce were  not  present.  Could  they  have  witnessed  the  whole-souled  recep- 
tion given  the  guests,  partaken  of  the  magnificent  banquet,  and  listened  to  the 
warm-hearted  sentiments  of  welcome  which  greeted  them  upon  everj'  hand, 
they  would  have  felt  a  still  deeper  regard  for  the  commercial  prosperity  of 
Baltimore.  Cincinnati  has  been  built  up  principally  by  the  enterprising  men 
of  the  present  day,  and  all  must  admit  that  her  railroad  interests  have  con- 
tributed very  materially  to  her  progress.     [Applause.] 

The  speaker  saw  in  the  hall  a  young  man  who  recollected  when  Cincinnati 
•was  a  village  ;  now  she  possessed  a  population  of  hundreds  of  thousands,  with 
enormous  esportations  and  importations,  whilst  her  mechanical  and  manufac- 
turing interests  require  the  constant  service  of  over  900  steam  engines.  He 
concluded  by  exhorting  the  business  men  of  the  city  to  push  on  with  still 
increasing  energy  all  their  works  of  internal  improvement,  and  they  might  be 
assured  that  the  citizens  of  Cincinnati  would  gladly  meet  them  in  a  spirit  of 
unity  and  with  the  best  of  feehng^     [Applause.] 

The  Cities  of  Baltimore,  Chillicothe,  Cincinnati  and  iSt.  Louis :  all  links  of 
one  great  chain  ;   may  it  never  be  severed ! 

This  sentiment  was  offered  by  Mr.  Levi,  of  St.  Louis,  and  eloquently 
responded  to  by  Mr.  George  R.  Taj^lor,  of  that  city. 

He  said  that  it  was  entirely  too  late  to  afflict  the  company  ^nth  a  speech, 
and  after  a  few  brief  obsen'ations  about  the  warm-hearted  reception  extended 
by  the  citizens  of  Baltimore,  and  the  relative  progress  which  the  several  cities 
of  the  West  were  making,  sat  down  amid  applause. 

The  following  letter  fiom  tho  Hon.  Reverdy  Johnson,  of  Baltimore, 
was  not  received  in  time  to  be  read  at  the  Banquet,  as  intended : 

Washington  City,  July  17th,  1857. 
To  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  citizens  of  Baltimore : 

Gentleman : — The  invitation  with  which  you  have  just  honored  me  to  the 
banquet  to  be  given  our  Western  and  South-western  friend.«,  on  the  20th  instant, 
I  am  pained  to  be  unable  to  accept.  The  professional  demands  upon  me  in 
this  city,  for  that  day  and  the  next,  will  engross  every  moment  of  my  time,  and 
make  it  even  impossible  to  be  present  with  you,  much  less  to  take  the  part  you 
6o  flatteringly  offer.  The  occasion  is  one  it  would  give  me  the  truest  pleasure 
to  participate  Li.     To  welcome  in  our  midst  those  who  have  so  recently  show- 


REVERDY  Johnson's  letter — volunteer  toasts.         Ill 

ered  upon  many  of  our  citizens  the  magnificent  hospitalities  of  their  own 
homes,  and  who  individually  have  such  high  claims  to  our  regard,  is  such  a 
pleasant  office  that  I  feel  veiy  sensibly  the  gratification  which  I  am  forced  to 
deny  myself.  Here  "will  be  no  gathering  of  party  politicians  or  indulgence  in 
unfriendly  and  often  unjust  feelings,  but  an  assemblage  in  which  all  narrow  and 
selfish  thoughts,  all  local,  sectional  consideration,  will  be  forgotten  in  the  ele- 
vation which  truly  belongs  to  us,  if  looking  only  to,  and  thanking  God  for, 
the  whole  country  which  he  has  given  us,  and  for  the  free  Institutions  so 
admirably  calculated,  if  administered  in  their  true  spirit,  to  preserve  to  us  as 
one  and  united,  and  the  happiest  and  the  most  powerful  nation  the  world  has  ever 
known.  Nor  could  an  opportunity  occur  more  certain  to  suggest  such  thoughts 
than  that  whose  immediate  cause,  is  the  joining  by  iron  bands  so  many  cen- 
tral States  in  one  unbroken  and  indissoluble  union  of  interest  and  patriotism. 
As  the  waters  of  the  mighty  rivers  after  performing  their  appropriate  functions 
are  lost  amidst  the  magnificence  of  their  ocean  destiny,  so  do  local  and  con- 
tracted views  cease  to  be  remembered,  when  the  magnitude  and  magnificence 
of  our  entire  land  are  before  us.  In  conclusion,  permit  to  propose  this  senti- 
ment: 

"  The  AVest  and  South-west,  rich  in  all  the  elements  of  national  wealth, 
richer  still  in  enlightened  enterprise  and  devotion  to  the  Union. 
"  With  much  regard, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  Revekdy  Johnson." 

The  followang  volunteer  toast  was  handed  in  by  Joshua  Jones,  of 
Baltimore,  and  received  with  applause : 

The,  Ladies  in  the  Galleries: 

Honored  be  woman,  she  beams  on  the  sight 
Graceful  and  fair  as  a  being  of  light, 
And  scattei's  around  her  wherever  she  stays, 
Roses  of  bliss  on  our  thorn-covered  ways ; 
Roses  of  Paradise  sent  from  above, 
To  be  gathered  and  twined  in  a  garland  of  love. 
Honored  be  woman ! 

In  answer  to  another  volunteer  toast,  Mr.  Taylor,  of  St.  Louis, 
Bpoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  Baltimore,  of  her  hospitality,  and  of 
gentlemen  born  and  educated  there,  but  now  residents  of  St.  Louis. 
He  closed  by  giving  this  sentiment : 

"  May  the  reciprocal  interests  of  commerce,  agriculture  and  manufactures, 
cemented  by  the  interchange  of  civilities  on  the  opening  of  the  great  national 
highway  between  the  cities  of  Baltimore  and  St.  Louis,  be  as  permanent  and 
endurin<T  as  the  waters  that  float  the  commerce  of  the  one  and  wash  the  base 
of  the  other." 


112         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

The  sentiment  was  received  with  hearty  cheers. 

The  following  volunteer  toasts  were  then  successively  offered : 

By  Donald  McLeod,  of  Washington : 

The  Ladies  of  Baltimore — Ever  renowned  for  loveliness,  grace  and  social 
talents;  they  have  made  an  impression  on  the  manly  hearts  of  the  West 
which  wiU  never  be  effaced. 

Theirs  are  the  looks  and  tones  which  dart 
An  instant  sunshine  through  the  heart, 
As  if  the  soul  that  minute  caught 
Some  treasure  it  through  life  had  sought  1 

As  if  the  very  lips  and  eyes. 
Predestined  to  have  all  our  sighs. 
And  never  be  forgot  again, 
Sparkled  and  spoke  before  us  then  I 

By  F.  A.  McDonald,  of  St.  Louis: 

The  Citizens  nf  Baltimore — May  their  warm  and  patriotic  hearts  stand  as 
firm  and  unshaken  as  the  lofty  mountains  of  the  Alleghauies. 

By  J.  B.  Seidenstricker,  of  Baltimore : 

The  onward  progress  of  Railroad  improvements,  until  every  State  shall  be 
bat  as  a  large  plantation,  every  county  a  farm,  and  every  city  a  common 
granary. 

By  G.  P.  Ferguson,  of  St.  Louis : 

Baltimore  : 

When  Tamerlane  a  vict'ry  won, 
'Tis  said  he  held  a  court, 
Composed  of  bloody  human  heads 
From  captive  bands  increased. 

But  Baltimore,  victorious  Queen, 
From  such  a  rule  departs ; 
She  honor  sheds  upon  our  heads. 
And  captivates  our  hearts. 

These  proceedings  clcsed  the  regular  and  more  formal  observances 
of  the  banquet,  as  sketched  in  the  programme  of  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements.  They  were  excellently  carried  out,  and  justified  the 
taste  and  judgment  which  had  been  exercised  in  their  projection.  The 
speeches  of  the  chosen  orators  of  the  occasion  were  warmly  received, 
but  not  more  so  than  the  reader,  who  has  attentively  perused  them, 
will  admit  their  merit  deserved.  In  this  respect,  indeed,  the  occasion 
was  marked  by  an  excellence  of  sentiment,  a  grace  of  diction,  and  an 


THE  UNIVERSAL  "  SMITH  FAMILY"  WELCOME  THE  GUESTS.       113 

eloquence  of  delivery  that  has  very  rarely  been  paralleled  on  a  similar 
festive  occasion.  The  animating  spirit  of  social  and  national  feelings 
gave  warmth  and  fire  to  the  minds  of  the  speakers,  and  they  spoke 
fitly  and  well. 

These  more  formal  observances,  however,  though  the  great  points 
of  the  celebration,  were  not  the  only  ones  deserving  mention.  There 
were  brief  speeches  brought  out  impromptu  in  response  to  pertinent 
toasts,  witty  and  happy  things  said,  good  songs  sung,  and  many  jokes 
honored  with  a  full  chorus  of  laughter  at  various  points  of  the  board, 
and  at  none  more  than  at  the  extreme  lower  end  of  the  hall.  The 
guests  and  their  entertainers  there,  finding  it  impossible,  owing  to  the 
excitement  and  their  distance  from  the  principal  speakers,  to  partici- 
pate in  the  enjoyment  of  the  flow  of  oratory  so  lavishly  poured  out, 
improvised  a  meeting  for  themselves,  at  which  there  was  no  lack  of 
entertainment.  Mr.  John  M.  Smith,  an  intelligent  and  popular  Balti- 
more merchant,  was  called  upon  to  welcome  the  guests,  which  he  did 
in  a  peculiar  but  very  acceptable  manner,  and  amidst  continued  peals 
of  laughter  and  applause.  With  the  most  vehement  earnestness,  he 
said: 

Gentlemen  of  the  West  :  I  am  called  upon  to  greet  you  and  bid  you 
welcome  to  what  you  will  be  told,  as  you  progress  North,  is  a  cold  and  barba- 
rous section  of  the  country.  (Cincinnati  man,  pausing  in  the  task  of  extracting 
a  champagne  cork,  comments  :  "  Cold !  thermometer  98  in  shade.")  [Laugh- 
ter.] They  will  tell  you  that  we,  of  Baltimore,  are  all  '*  plugs."  [Laughter.] 
If  you  see  fit  you  can  defend  us,  and  say,  for  it  is  the  truth,  that  the  honest 
dcfrire  of  our  hearts  has  been  to  fill  you  full  of  joyful  happiness,  and  then 
"  plug  "  you  up,  that  you  might  forever  continue  to  be  in  that  happy  condi- 
tion. [Uproarious  merriment.]  Another  truth  you  may  reveal,  and  say  that 
our  desire  was  to  ''Plug"  your  appetites  with  the  best  that  our  fields  and 
waters  afford — to  give  you  the  true  "Plug"  welcome.  [Laughter  and  ap- 
plause.] 

Gentlemen  of  the  West,  resent  with  harshness  nothing  you  may  hear  said 
against  us,  for  wc  are  not  "  afeard  if  they  ain't."  We  care  nothing  for  the  op- 
position of  New  York  or  Philadelphia.  They  are  overreaching  themselves, 
and  are  hound  to  be  "  sot  back."  The  day  is  not  distant  when  Baltimore  will 
be  prepared  to  take  the  tide  at  the  flood,  and  produce  a  glorious  sensation  as  a 
commercial  community,  with  those  important  results  which  will  impress  you 
of  the  West  that  we  are  entirely  worthy  of  your  patronage.      [Applause.] 

Gentlemen,  let  us  start  now  with  your  assistance.  Say  that  we  are  to 
have  the  important  trade  of  Chillicothe,  Cincinnati,  and  St.  Louis.     Why, 


114         EXCURSION    OF    "WESTERN  AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

concentrate  that  trsulo  -with  us,  and  in  ten  years  we  would  be  so  superior  to 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  and  they  of  so  little  account,  that  Government 
would  not  longer  recognize  either  of  them  as  Ports  of  entry,  but  like  something 
decrepit  and  obsolete,  they  would  be  rubbed  out.  So,  who's  afmrd  of  opposi- 
tion ?     [Laughter  and  applause.] 

Gentlemen  of  the  West,  I  have  spoken  as  a  Christian,  and  said  "  resent 
nothing  ;  "  but  should  they  carry  the  war  of  malice  into  Paradise,  (turning  to 
the  ladies  in  the  gallery,)  and  insinuate  that  these  galleries,  now  filled  with 
beauty  from  the  West  and  our  own  city,  are  not  most  lovely,  or  are  not  de- 
serving the  most  profound  respect  and  the  most  flattering  compliments,  then 
let  loose  the  fury  of  your  wrath,  and  lick  them  for  a  Jib  so  atrful!  [Applause.] 
Biit  they  cannot  be  so  base  as  to  attack  yonder  galaxy  of  purity  and  beauty,  so 
brilliant  that  I  know  not  what  in  the  firmament  to  compare  it  with  for  loveli- 
ness. I  am  ignorant  of  the  science  of  astronomy ;  still,  the  impressions  of 
innocence  and  infancy  upon  my  memory,  made  by  my  old  nurse,  who  was 
an  astronomer,  (for  she  knew  the  star  under  which  I  was  born,)  have  induced 
me  to  believe  that  the  "  milky  way  "  is  so  brilliant  and  lovely  that  they  should 
have  a  place  in  it.     [Long  continued  laughter  and  applause.] 

My  countrymen  from  the  West,  it  is  useless  for  me,  after  so  much  heart- 
felt sympathy  has  been  manifested  for  j'our  happiness,  to  say  any  thing  more 
than — Welcome  !  FeUow-children  of  the  American  Eagle,  (!)  [with  expanded 
arms,  or  tvings,^  let  me  once  again  aflfectionately  salute  you  !  May  your  ways 
ever  be  as  pleasant  as  the  great  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail-!Pay  ;  may  you  never 
slide  down  the  greased  plank  of  ancestorial  delinquency ;  but  may  you  always 
abide  in  the  delightful  field  of  perennial  superflickity.  (!)  like  that  which  con- 
tradistinguishes the  present  hour !  I  [Sensation.]  Oh,  that  I  were  a  Demos- 
thenes, or  that,  greater  than  he,  I  had  the  power  of  an  earthquake  and  a  voice 
of  thunder.  Then  I  would  stir  the  waters  of  your  mighty  rivers,  widen  the 
passes  of  your  stupendous  mountains,  and  make  your  wide-spreading,  soul- 
expanding  prairies  reverberate  with  the  shout  of  welcome  !  welcomk  ! !  WEL- 
COME ! ! !     [Repeated  cheers  and  uproarious  laughter,] 

Mr.  Smith's  lively  speech  was  followed  by  numerous  brief  re- 
sponses, in  the  same  spirit,  from  gentlemen  of  the  Western  delegations. 
Toasts  were  given,  songs  sung,  and  merriment  and  enjoyment  ruled  the 
hour.  The  interest  in  the  ladies  above  was  manifested  by  more  than 
■words,  and  many  laughable  stratagems  were  practised  in  conveying  to 
them  portions  of  the  feast  below.  These  proceedings  were  interspersed 
with  some  excellent  vocal  music.  The  patriotic  anthem  of  the  "  Star 
Spangled  Banner  "  was  sung  by  George  Kemble  Wilkins,  of  St.  Louis, 
who  followed  it  with 


THE    BANQUET   ENDS   WITH    A    NEW    RAILWAY    SONG.  115 

THE  GREAT  RAILWAY  SONG, 

written  by  himself  in  commemoration  of  tbe  jrrand  reception  of  the  prnests  from 
Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis,  by  the  people  of  Baltimore,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1857, 
and  which  reads  as  follows : 

TuxE— "  Teddy  the  TiUrr 

Tt  happened  but  the  other  day  Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis  did  say, 

"  Come,  boys,  we'll  have  a  gala  day — we're  going  to  open  a  railway." 

They  thought  of  towns  near  half  a  score,  and  then  they  thought  ofBaltimore, 

The  very  city  they'd  all  adore,  if  that  some  folks  were  not  so  .oore  ; 

Of  Chillicothe,  too,  they  thought,  that  town  for  railways  has  been  sought, 

But  whether  'tis  bought  up  or  not,  'tis  all  the  same  to  the  railway. 


Rickety-fickety,  fee-foo-fum,  how  do  you  think  the  world  begun  ? 
Adam  and  Eve  would  had  such  fun  if  they  had  built  a  railway. 

Accordingh'  they  did  invite  the  heads  of  States  that  had  a  right, 
"With  shareholders  in  numbers  quite,  to  open  up  this  railway ; 
Mayor  Swann  he  took  the  lead,  as  in  all  things  he  does  indeed. 
The  merchants  promised  free  to  bleed,  if  that  he  would  stand  in  their  stead ; 
He  did  it  truly  like  a  man,  and  now  let's  ask  the  world  who  can, 
If  such  a  return  jubilee  was  e'er  began  opening  up  this  Western  railway. 
Rickety-fickety,  &c. 

Of  meetings  nearly  three  or  four — yes,  I  may  say  half  a  score — 
The  merchants  then  of  Baltimore  did  have  upon  the  raUway  ; 
They  voted  dollars  in  galore,  ten  thousand,  aye,  five  thousand  more, 
To  open  the  hospitable  door,  and  greet  them  from  the  Western  shore  ; 
To  meet  the  West,  the  East,  the  South,  and  have  it  spoken  in  each  child's  mouth, 
That  Baltimore  was  nothing  loth  to  meet  pioneers  of  a  railway. 
Rickety-fickety,  &c. 

Politics  are  throwm  aside  to  make  this  happy  theme  just  glide, 
The  moment  of  America's  pride  is  opening  up  a  railway  ; 
The  demagogue  cannot  deride,  the  stump  speech-maker  and  such  tribes 
Must  melt  away  like  snow  before  the  sun  when  o'er  the  earth  he  rides — 
Securely  seated  in  your  seat,  the  iron  horse  in  vigorous  heat, 
2.40 — t^whistle) — say  what  nag  can  beat  the  travelling  on  the  railway  ? 
Rickety-fickety,  &c. 

Now  merely  to  complete  the  song,  and  now  to  make  it  something  long, 
Let  every  woman,  child,  and  man  amongst  us  grace  the  railway  ; 
Firemen  you  must  not  deride — Union  and  FriendMp  will  be  your  guide, 
While  Vigilant,  Patapsco,  First  Baltimore  with  Independent — 
Washington,   Watchman  to  join  the  corps — 
Liberty,  Deptford,  Mechanical  and 
Lafaijette,  Pioneer,  Monumental  stand  ! 
Whilst  the  New  Market  and  Western  finishes  the  grand 
Consolidation  of  the  railway. 

Rickety-fickety,  &c. 


116  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

The  company,  at  midnight,  separated,  with  three  cheers  for  Mayor 
Swann,  three  for  the  city  of  Baltimore,  and  three  for  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad. 

The  following  handsome  tribute  was  sung  quite  effectively  by  some 
of  the  visitors  after  the  banquet  had  closed  : 

TO  BALTIMORE, 

WBriTEX   BT   PHILIP    FEEGUSOX,    OF   THE   ST.    LOUIS    HERALD. 

AiE — Jeanneite  and  Jeannot. 

We  are  going  far  away,  far  away  from  Baltimore, 
The  city  of  the  Monuments  is  fading  from  the  shore ; 
But  the  noble  hosts  we  leave  behind,  we  never  shall  forget, 
And  the  image  of  her  daughters  in  our  bosom's  shrine  is  set. 

We  have  crossed  the  lovely  prairie,  we  have  crossed  the  mountain  heights, 
The  magic  car  has  borne  us  o'er  through  tireless  days  and  nights, 
And  now  our  homeward  way  w-e  take  to  Mississippi's  shore, 
And  bid  a  warm  and  sad  adieu  to  lovely  Baltimore. 

Hurrah  for  noble  Baltimore,  Queen  City  of  the  Bay. 

Her  iron  hands  we  warmly  grasp,  and  meet  her  on  the  way ; 

The  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  with  Mississippi  P'  lur, 

And  link  our  own  St.  Louis  to  the  hills  of  Baltimore. 

The  ties  that  bind  the  East  and  West  are  not  all  iron  bands, 
For  friendship's  links  unite  us,  and  we  join  both  hearts  and  hands ; 
And  when  at  home  our  minds  revert  to  scenes  we've  travelled  o'er, 
The  brightest  spot  in  Mem'ry's  green,  will  be  old  Baltimore. 


!z   a    5 


i'''P>   i^    t.VUi 


THE 


KAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF  1857. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

TRIP  OF  THE  WESTERN  GUESTS  TO  THE  NATIONAL  METROPOLIS. 

The  citizens  and  authorities  of  Washington  having  learned  that  it 
was  the  desire  of  the  Directors  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  to 
have  the  Western  guests  visit  Washington  City  and  Mount  Vernon,  a 
meeting  of  citizens  was  called,  and  an  invitation  extended  to  the  visi- 
tors to  become  the  guests  of  the  city  during  their  stay.  A  committee 
of  the  following  gentlemen  was  appointed  to  carry  out  the  plan  on  be- 
half of  the  citizens,  viz. :  Walter  Lenox,  Charles  F.  Stansbury,  J.  C. 
McGuire,  and  J.  Brjan.  The  City  Councils  also  passed  resolutions  to 
the  same  effect,  and  appointed  Messrs.  ^liller,  Houston,  Smith,  and 
Edtnundson  a  Committee  of  Arrangements  on  their  part. 

A  Joint  Committee  on  behalf  of  the  City  Councils  and  of  the  citi- 
zens, proceeded  to  Baltimore  for  the  purpose  of  communicating  the 
invitation  to  the  guests.  A  meeting  of  the  Western  visitors  was  held 
at  Barnum's  Hotel,  when  the  invitation  on  the  part  of  the  City  Coun- 
cils was  tendered  by  Dr.  Thomas  Miller,  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen, 
and  by  C.  F.  Stansbury  on  the  part  of  the  citizens.  The  invitation 
was  accepted  in  a  brief  and  appropriate  address  on  behalf  of  the  St. 
Louis  and  other  delegations. 

The  authorities  and  the  people  of  Washington  City  came  forward 
on  this  occasion  with  a  promptness  and  a  liberality  that  did  them 
infinite  credit.  No  expense  or  labor  was  spared  to  do  justice  to  their 
metropolis  and  themselves,  and  the  Western  guests,  as  well  as  their 
Baltimore  entertainers,  were  all  delighted  with  the  thoroughness  and 
effect  of  the  Washington  visit.     It  is  believed  that  the  credit  of  the 


118  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

initiative  in  this  very  spirited  demonstration — as  well  as  for  much  of  its 
success — belongs  to  Dr.  Charles  F.  Stansbury,  one  of  the  most  intelli- 
gent and  public-spirited  citizens  of  the  National  Metropolis. 

The  Western  guests  of  the  city  of  Baltimore  having  thus  cordially 
accepted  the  invitation  of  the  people  of  Washington  to  visit  them, 
left  the  Camden  Station  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  on  Tues- 
day morning,  the  21st  of  July,  at  7  o'clock,  in  a  train  of  cars  specially 
provided  for  the  purpose.  The  party  was  composed  of  about  four 
hundred  persons,  including  a  large  number  of  ladies.  The  fine  bands 
of  music  attached  to  the  St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati  delegations  were 
also  on  the  cars,  and  contributed  their  efforts  towards  the  enjoyment 
of  the  day.  The  train  was  under  the  especial  charge  of  Mr.  Geo.  A. 
Rawlings  as  conductor,  and  was  drawn  by  one  of  the  nine  splendid  new 
passenger  engines  lately  introduced  upon  the  road.  A  number  of  the 
members  of  the  City  Council  of  Baltimore  accompanied  the  guests 
from  the  West  to  the  National  Metropolis  ;  among  them  were  Messrs. 
Seidenstricker,  Simms,  Bierbower,  and  Sullivan.  Mr.  Tyson,  the 
Master  of  Machinery,  and  Colonel  Edward  Shriver.  of  Frederick,  one 
of  the  State  Directors  in  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  accompanied 
the  train  some  distance  below  the  Annapolis  Junction,  from  whence 
they  returned  to  Baltimore  by  the  next  upward  train.  A  committee 
from  Washington  was  also  on  the  cars,  who  paid  every  attention  to 
the  guests  during  the  trip.  The  train  reached  Washington  a  few 
minutes  before  9  o'clock,  and  as  the  visitors  stefiped  from  the  cars,  they 
were  greeted  with  music  from  the  Marine  Band  of  the  Government 
Navy  Yard.  They  were  met  in  the  Station  House  by  the  Mayor,  a 
number  of  the  members  of  both  branches  of  the  City  Council,  and  a 
large  body  of  the  citizens  of  Washington. 

Mayor  Magruder  addressed  the  visitors  substantially  as  follows  : 

Gentlemen  visitors  from  the  Western  cities,  in  behalf  of  the  corporation 
and  citizens  of  the  National  Metropolis,  I  welcome  you  to  our  city.  I  trust 
you  will  find  it  in  plan  and  dimensions  such  as  to  constitute  it  in  your  ODinion 
not  unworthy  to  be  the  capital  of  so  great  a  country.  It  is  yours  and  not 
ours;  it  is  for  us  to  keep  it  for  you  and  the  whole  people  of  the  United  States; 
we  claim  it  not  for  our  own,  but  as  the  representatives  of  the  people  of  the 
Union.  Hoping  you  may  find  in  the  many  objects  of  interest  it  contains,  mat- 
ter for  individual  pleasure  and  patriotic  gratification,  I  again  welcome  vou,  and 
hope  that  when  you  return  home  you  will  think  and  feel  of  us  in  such  a  way 
as  will  induce  you  to  visit  us  again.     [Great  applause.] 


ARRIVAL    AND    RECEPTION    AT    WASHINGTON    CITY.  119 

Edward  Adams,  Mayor  of  Chillicothe,  responded  in  behalf  of  those 
from  his  own  city  and  vicinity.  He  commenced  by  returning  his 
hearty  thanks  for  the  very  kind  welcome  thus  extended. 

You  are  right,  Mr.  Mnyor,  (said  he,)  in  calling  the  city  of  AVashington  our 
own,  for  in  fact  it  is  such  ;  we  all  feel  it,  and  are  free  to  acknowledge  the  deep 
interest  we  take  in  its  welfare.  We  feel  that  it  is  becoming  in  us  to  make  an 
occasional  pilgrimage  here  to  look  after  our  interests.  You  have  here,  sir,  our 
national  capitol,  our  national  executive  buildings,  in  which  the  ofBcial  business 
of  our  countrj^  is  conducted,  and  many  other  objects  of  deep  interest  to  us  all, 
not  the  least  of  which  is  the  great  Smithsonian  Institution.  We  accfpt  your 
hospitality,  Mr.  Mayor,  with  the  liveliest  satisfaction,  and  on  behalf  of  my 
fellow-townsmen  I  thank  you  heartily. 

Messrs.  Eggleston  and  Kercheval,  of  Cincinnati,  and  a  gentleman 
of  St.  Louis,  whose  name  we  were  unable  to  procure,  also  happily  re- 
sponded. Alderman  Kercheval  spoke  of  the  delight  experienced  by 
the  party  when  it  was  heard  in  Baltimore  of  the  handsome  invitation 
extended  to  them  from  Wasliington,  and  of  the  manner  in  which  their 
Washington  friends  had  interposed  for  their  pleasure.  He  thanked 
the  Mayor  of  Washington  and  its  citizens,  and  accepted  their  hospi- 
tality in  the  same  cordial  spirit  in  which  it  had  been  proffered. 

At  twenty  minutes  to  ten  o'clock  the  guests  were  conducted  to  the 
carriages  and  omnibuses,  in  which  they  proceeded  to  the  White  House, 
to  visit  the  President  of  the  United  States.  At  ten  o'clock  the  doors 
of  the  White  House  were  thrown  open,  and  the  visitors  passed  through 
the  large  hall  into  the  President's  reception  room,  from  which,  at- 
tracted by  some  fine  stirring  music,  they  proceeded  to  the  President's 
grounds,  overlooking  the  Potomac.  The  musicians  were  stationed  on 
three  of  the  shaded  mounds,  and  the  place  presented  a  most  animated 
appearance.  At  about  twenty  minutes  past  ten  o'clock  the  Presi- 
dent arrived  from  his  country  seat,  some  three  miles  north  of  the 
city.  Immediately  all  eyes  were  directed  toward  him,  as  he  ap- 
proached the  expectant  company.  He  was  accompanied  by  General 
Cass,  Secretary  of  State ;  Howell  Cobb,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury ; 
Isaac  Toucey,  Secretary  of  the  Navy ;  John  B.  Flo3'd,  Secretary  of 
War,  and  Aaron  V.  Brown,  Postmaster-General,  members  of  the  cabi- 
net, and  by  INIayor  Magruder  and  Dr.  Blake,  the  Commissioner  of 
Public  Buildings  and  Grounds.  President  Buchanan,  in  the  simplest 
and  most  cordial  manner,  received  the  numerous  strangers  pre- 
sented to  him  by  the  Mayor,  charming  all  by  his  affability  and  un- 


120  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

studied  friendliness  of  speech  and  bearing,  ^here  was  nothing  formal 
whatever  in  the  reception  by  the  President,  and  as  the  large  company 
passed  him,  he  gave  all  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand ;  whilst  to  each 
and  every  one  of  the  ladies  he  had  something  pleasant  to  say. 

This  republican  reception  having  been  concluded,  Mr.  Buchanan 
and  his  Cabinet  retired  to  the  White  House,  and  the  visitors  again 
entered  the  carriages  in  waiting,  and  devoted  two  hours  and  a 
half  to  visiting  the  Capitol,  the  Patent  Office,  the  Smithsonian  Insti- 
tution, and  the  various  other  prominent  objects  of  interest  in  the  city, 
previous  to  embarking  on  the  steamer  George  Washington,  for  Mount 
Vernon. 

At  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  carriages  came  pouring 
in  from  all  parts  to  the  steamboat  wharf,  where  lay  the  steamer  George 
Washington,  ready  to  receive  the  visitors  and  their  entertainers,  and 
convey  them  to  Mount  Vernon.  With  a  company  on  board  number- 
ing nearly  five  hundred,  the  little  steamer,  amid  the  swelling  strains 
of  martial  music,  steamed  on  her  way.  The  boat  was  decorated  with 
a  number  of  waving  flags.  On  her  way  down  she  passed  the  United 
States  ship  Fulton,  steaming  up  toward  the  Washington  Navy  Yard, 
her  crew  giving  three  hearty  cheers  as  the  excursionists  passed,  which 
were  returned  with  a  good  will  by  those  on  board  the  Washington. 
The  guests  from  the  West  were  thus  enabled,  quite  unexpectedly,  to 
witness  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  ships-of-war  under  full  headway. 

The  steamer  reached  the  Mount  Vernon  wharf  about  half-past  three 
o'clock.  The  excursionists  disembarked  and  slowly  marched  to  the 
tomb  of  Washington.  During  the  performance  of  a  funeral  dirge  by 
the  band,  they  gazed  in  successive  groups  reverently  into  the  sacred 
vault  upon  the  marble  sarcophagi  holding  the  sacred  remains  of  the 
Father  of  the  Country  and  his  beloved  consort.  After  satisfying  their 
laudable  and  patriotic  curiosity  by  this  act  of  devotional  interest,  the 
guests  became  scattered.  Some  of  them  proceeded  to  take  a  view  of 
the  old  mansion,  whilst  others  wandered  over  the  classic  grounds  that 
surround  it,  all  finding  something  to  view  of  deep  interest  to  every 
American.  Those  who  visited  the  house  registered  their  names  in  a 
book  kept  for  the  purpose.  After  refreshing  themselves  with  copious 
draughts  of  the  pure  well-water  of  the  premises,  the  numerous  visitors 
retraced  their  steps  toward  the  boat.  Embarking  at  half-past  four, 
they  reached  Washington  City  again  a  little  after  six,  without  the  least 
accident  to  mar  the  interest  of  the  trip. 


BANQUET    AT    CARUSl's    SALOON.  121 

On  the  arrival  of  the  boat  at  Washington,  on  her  return,  omni- 
buses and  carriages  were  again  brought  into  requisition,  and  the  guests 
were  speedily  set  down  at  Carusi's  Saloon,  where  the  grand  banquet 
was  to  take  place.  Whilst  waiting,  the  entire  St.  Louis  delegation, 
headed  by  their  fine  band,  marshalled  by  the  gallant  Captain  Pritchard, 
marched  to  the  residence  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Benton,  with  a  view 
of  paying  their  respects  to  him  in  a  body.  Unfortunately  their  ex- 
senator  was  not  in  the  city,  having  left  a  short  time  previous  for  the 
residence  of  a  friend  in  the  countr}"-.  After  the  band  had  performed 
several  pieces  of  music,  the  delegation  returned  to  the  saloon,  con- 
siderably disappointed  at  not  meeting  with  the  distinguished  statesman 
of  Missouri. 

At  8  o'olock  the  guests  sat  down  to  the  bounteous  banquet  pro- 
vided for  them  at  Carusi's  saloon.  There  were  five  tables  extending 
the  entire  length  of  the  hall — about  100  feet  long — and  one  on  a  raised 
platform  facing  the  parallel  tables.  The  guests  were  all  comfortably 
seated,  the  ladies  occupying  the  centre  tables.  After  the  Marine  Band, 
of  Washington,  had  performed  a  fine  piece  of  music.  Mayor  Magruder 
rose  and  remarked :  "  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  if  your  appetites  are  as 
good  as  mine,  you  will  not  wait  for  an  invitation  to  fall  foul  of  what 
is  set  before  you."  The  clatter  of  knives  and  forks  following  this 
laconic  invitation  showed  the  keenness  of  the  appetites  of  the  guests 
after  their  aquatic  excursion.  As  the  rattle  of  plates  and  the  running 
to  and  fro  of  servants  began  to  subside,  the  champagne  corks  began  to 
pop,  and  soon  all  present  seemed  to  be  in  the  full  tide  of  successful 
enjoyment. 

The  appetites  of  the  guests  having  been  appeased,  Mayor  Magruder 
of  Washington  arose,  and  in  eloquent  terms  alluded  to  the  won- 
derful change  in  the  circumstances  of  travelling  that  had  happened 
within  his  youthful  recollection  of  twentj'-five  years !  It  was  at  that 
time  a  day's  journey  to  Baltimore  and  a  day's  journey  back,  and  a 
journej'  to  New  York  was  ground  enough  for  a  man's  making  his  will 
and  having  his  life  insured.  In  view  of  this  wonderful  progress,  he 
gave  as  a  toast,  "  Our  Country,"  which  was  responded  to.  After  this 
toast  the  Marine  Band  played  "  Hail  Columbia."  The  Mayor  next 
gave  the  "Father  of  the  Liberties  of  his  Country  " — George  Washing- 
ton. This  toast  was  greeted  with  loud  and  long-continued  cheers, 
the  band  playing  ''  The  President's  March."  As  soon  as  the  Mayor 
could  be  heard,  he  said  that  the  next  sentiment  was  in  reference  to  a 
distinguished  gentleman  venerated  for  his  patriotism,  for  his  unstained 
6 


122  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    BAST. 

cliaracter.     He  regretted  that  he  was  not  present,  but  would  read  the 
following  letter  which  he  had  written : 

"Washincton,  July  21st,  1S57. 
Gexti.emen  :  I  have  the  honor  to  receive  your  invitation  to  meet  the 
guests  of  the  city  from  the  West  at  Carusi's  Saloon  this  evening,  but  I  sin- 
cerely regret  that  pressing  engagements  will  deprive  me  of  this  privilege.  I 
was  most  happy  to  give  them  a  cordial  welcome  this  morning.  Railroads  are 
truly  said  to  bind  the  different  portions  of  the  Union  together  in  bonds  of  iron, 
but  neither  iron  nor  adamant  is  so  effectual  for  this  purpose  as  kind  and  patri-  , 
otic  hearts  from  different  and  distant  States  united  together  in  bonds  of  mutual 
respect  and  affection,  and  in  a  common  love  for  one  whole,  great,  and  glorious 
country.  These  bonds  are  always  strengthened  by  such  visits  as  we  have 
received  from  oin-  Western  friends,  and  I  most  heartily  wish  them  a  safe  and 
prosperous  return  to  their  homes. 

Yours,  respectfully, 

James  Buchanan. 

This  letter  was  very  heartily  received  by  the  guests.  After  the  band 
had  played  "  Hail  to  the  Chief,"  Mayor  Magruder  gave  the  next  toast, 
"  The  President,"  which  was  drank  standing ;  and  immediately  after  the 
cheering  which  succeeded  had  subsided,  one  of  the  guests  proposed  three 
cheers  for  the  President,  which  were  given  most  heartily.  The  Mayor 
also  read  letters  from  General  Cass,  Secretary  of  State  ;  Gov.  Floyd. 
Secretary  of  War,  and  Judge  Black,  Attorney  General.  Each  of  these 
gentlemen  expressed  great  regret  that  pressing  public  business  prevented 
his  meeting  the  guests  of  the  city  at  Carusi's  Saloon.  His  honor  stated 
that  as  these  were  the  sentiments  of  the  absent  members  of  the  Cabi- 
net, he  would  now  propose,  as  the  next  toast,  "  The  Cabinet,"  and 
hoped  that  as  there  was  a  member  present,  he  would  answer  for  him- 
self. After  the  applause  succeeding  this  announcement  had  somewhat 
subsided,  Mr.  Cobb,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  rose  to  respond.  It 
was  one  of  the  happiest  and  most  patriotic  efforts  attendant  ujjon 
the  entire  excursion,  and  fairly  brought  down  the  house.  To  a  toast 
in  honor  of  the  Empire  State  of  the  West — the  State  of  Ohio — Mr. 
Brown,  of  Cincinnati,  responded,  after  which,  in  answer  to  a  sentiment 
complimentary  to  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Henry  W.  Williams,  a  talented  young 
member  of  the  Bar  of  that  city,  replied  in  a  most  felicitous  manner. 
During  the  I'cmarks  of  jMr.  W.,  and  whilst  he  was  giving  a  history  of 
his  journey  from  the  West,  when  he  came  to  that  part  announcing  his 


THE    BANQUET  AT  WASniXCTOX THE  SPEECHES  AND  TOASTS.    123 

arrival  in  Baltimore,  the  entire  party  simultaneously  rose  to  their  feet, 
and  interrupting  him,  gave  three  long  and  loud  cheers  for  the  city  of 
Baltimore. 

In  reply  to  the  toast  complimentary  to  the  city  of  Ciiiilicothe, 
Seneca  W.  Ely,  of  that  city,  heing  called  upon,  responded  as  follows : 

After  having  eaten  of  your  bounty  to  satiety,  Mr.  President,  and  drank 
even  to  the  bounds  of  a  sober  discretion,  I  would  now  ask  you  how  it  is,  in 
psychological  science,  that  the  most  grateful  emotions  of  the  heart  find  most 
difficult  utterance  ?  How  is  it,  sir,  that  while  we,  your  guests,  are  filled  with 
admiration  at  this  unexpected  exhibition  of  your  magnificent  welcome,  we  j-et 
find  it  impossible  to  command  our  muscle,  and  to  syllable  our  tongues  full 
gracefully  to  express  our  gratitude  and  kind  appreciation  ?  "Why  does  language 
fail  us,  in  this  our  need  ?  The  question  1  leave  for  more  skilful  casuists  than 
I  pretend  to  be  to  determine;  but  I  confess,  that  since  my  comrades  and  my- 
self have  crossed  our  own  Ohio,  coming  hitherward,  the  thousand-stringed 
harp  within  me  has  been  thnimraing  mu.'^ic  too  sonorous  for  labial  utterance — 
too  precious  to  be  coined  into  words.     [Apjilau-e.] 

One  day  our  love  of  the  sublime  and  beautiful  was  gratified  to  the  full,  by 
the  towering  Appalachians,  beetling  with  crags,  and  made  pictxiresque  by 
"rock  and  tree  and  flowing  water;"  while,  constantly,  we  had  before  us  that 
stupendous  monument  of  human  skill  and  science,  overcoming  Nature's 
rudest  obstructions — the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad.  Next,  the  great  ex- 
tent, the  diversified  architecture,  the  commercial  thrift,  the  peerless  hospitality 
of  the  JIoNCMENTAL  CiTY,  Commanded  our  praise.     [Loud  applause.] 

This  day,  we  have  looked  upon  the  splendid  avenues  and  palatial  offices 
of  our  National  Capital :  have  exchanged  greetings  with  our  Executive  Chief ; 
have  gazed  upon  the  Tomb  of  Washington !  Here,  certainly,  language  is 
dumb — we  can  only  uncover  with  reverence,  and  mentally  ejaculate  with  the 
Celtic  Bard,  "  Our  harp  is  hung  on  a  broken  branch — its  strings  thrum  a 
mournful  sound:" 

"  Come,  then,  expressive  silence,  muse  his  praise." 

The  men  I  accompany,  Mr.  President,  come  from  the  littk-  city  of  the  hither 
West,  couched  among  the  corn-gardens  of  the  Scioto ;  the  little  citA',  I  may 
add,  without  boasting,  with  a  big  heart.  A  city,  sir,  which  has  /iid  the  heart 
to  devise  and  prompt  the  cons;  ruction  of  the  middle  section — two  hundred 
miles — of  the  American  Central  Kailway.  The  people  of  that  little  city,  sii", 
started  tliaf  work — 'twas  there  the  first  dollar  was  subscribed  ;  and  it  was  there 
the  first  .sj)udeful  of  earth  was  excavated — that  city  and  her  county  have  put  a 
million  of  hard  d<dlars  in  that  gi-eat  work,  and  with  the  potent  help  of  Marietta, 
Atliens,  and  the  other  counties  and  towns  along  the  line,  have  constructed  a 
first  class  railroad  across  the  peninsula  of  Southern  Ohio,  in  connection  with 
your  great  national  Baltimore  and  Ohio  route,  making  for  you,  of  Washing- 
ton and  Baltimore,  a  bee-line  to  St.  Louis  and  the  West,  at  a  cost  of  nearly 
nine  millions  of  dolhirs,  without  asking  either  community  to  subscribe  to  a 
cent's  worth  of  stock,  or  Congress  to  appropriate  an  acre  of  land  to  their 
work.     [Renewed  applause.] 

It  was  the  good  iortune  of  our  city,  sir,  on  the  late  occasion  of  the  opening 
of  that  great  Central  Line,  to  be  designated,  for  a  .■single  niglit,  as  the  lodging 
and  sojourning  place  of  the  guests  of  the  railway'  lines.     Om- citizens,  you  may 


124         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN  AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

be  assured,  accepted  the  appointment  with  alacrity.  They  believe  they  inhabit 
a  favored  spot,  in  a  land  of  plenty,  a  land  of  oil-olive  and  honey — a  land  of 
corn  and  barley;   and  of  wine  that  maketh  strong  the  heart. 

Mr.  Chairman  and  gentlemen  of  Washington,  we  welcomed  our  Eastern 
friends  with  whole  heartedness  to  onr  homes  and  boards — and,  let  ns  assure 
you,  our  welcome  was  not  in  the  nature  of  a  draft,  at  forty-five  days'  sight,  as 
they  and  you  have  treated  it,  with  an  hundred  per  cent,  interest  added. 

No.  sir ;  we  felt  amply  compensated  in  the  act  and  fact  that  you  had  left 
your  homes  on  the  seaboard  and  come  over  our  road  to  look  at  our  great 
mineral  raid  agricultural  country,  and  see  for  yourselves  what  a  wealth  of 
commerce  we  offer  to  the  acceptance  of  our  Eastern  friends  if  they  will  but 
stretch  their  hands  across  the  Ohio  and  grasp  the  prize.     [Applause.] 

Your  humble  speaker,  Mr.  Chairman,  left  your  neighbor  city  on  the  evening 
of  a  bleak  December  day,  almost  twenty-three  years  ago,  in  a  small  stage 
coach,  and  after  toiling  as  long  as  Jonah  was  in  the  body  of  the  fish,  through 
Little  York  and  Carlisle,  along  by  Bedford,  and  away  over  the  snow-drifts  of 
the  AUeghanies,  reached  the  smoky  city  at  the  head  of  the  then  frozen  Ohio. 
Another  week  of  toilsome  travel  conveyed  him  to  the  inconsiderable  village 
which  then,  as  the  fine  city  of  the  same  name  does  now,  served  as  the  Capitol 
of  the  Buckeye  State.  Such  were  the  difficulties  then  encountered,  and  so 
much  was  the  time  then  wasted  in  passing  from  Baltimore  to  Columbus.  At 
that  time  Chicago,  Dubuque,  Peoria,  Iowa  City,  and  many  other  now  populous 
emporia,  had  no  municipal  existence,  while  Vineennes,  St.  Lonis,  Detroit,  and 
other  towns  of  early  French  origin,  were  little  more  than  missionary  stations. 
But  Chillicothe,  though  of  but  small  civic  consequence,  was  long  before  an 
historical  point,  having  been  the  capital  of  the  Northwest  Territory ;  subse- 
quently, of  the  young  State  of  Ohio;  afterwards,  the  headquarters  of  the 
army  of  Major  General  Harrison,  during  the  late  war  with  Great  Britain — the 
residence  of  Tiffin,  McArthur,  Wortliington,  Creighton,  and  other  Western 
statesmen  known  to  you  older  citizens.  Well,  sir,  after  a  deliberate  breakfast, 
at  home,  on  Friday  morning  last,  we  stepped  into  the  luxurious  cars  of  the 
Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad,  and,  presto  !  within  twenty-four  hours  we 
had  travelled  590  miles,  and  were  receiving  the  elegant  hospitalities  of  your 
munificent  neighbor.     [Great  enthusiasm.] 

Such  is  one  of  the  every-day  histories  which  mark  our  era  of  physical  pro- 
gress— such  the  contrast  with  our  modern  "  olden  time."  The  steamship,  the 
railroad,  the  ten-cylinder  printing  press,  the  electric  telegraph,  the  cheap 
newspaper,  cheap  knowledge  universally  dffused — these  are  the  steppinj;- 
stones  of  civilization — the  great  ornaments  of  social  progress,  which  bring  ns 
all  together  as  neighbors,  and  sanctify  our  neighborhood  with  the  golden  spirit 
of  friendship  and  fraternal  charity.  It  but  remains  for  me,  in  the  name  of  our 
city  and  her  delegates,  on  this  excursion,  to  attempt  a  faint  expression  of  our 
hearty  thanks  lor  the  princely  hospitality  and  elegant  amenities  which  have 
everywhere  been  extended  to  ns.  especially  in  Baltimore  and  here,  and  to 
press  you,  one  and  all,  to  make  a  return  of  our  visit  whenever  your  convenience 
will  permit.     [Loud  and  long  applause.] 

Other  toasts  were  given  and  drank,  in  honor  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Itailroad  Company,  the  city  of  Washington,  »fec.,  &c.,  when,  at  a 
little  past  nine  o'clock,  the  party  separated  so  as  to  allow  the  excur- 
Bionists  an  opportunity  to  be  on  board  the  returning  special  train  for 


FURTHER  SPEECHES THE  GUESTS  ARE  LOCATED.      125 

Baltimore,  to  start  at  ten  o'clock.  They  were  again  taken  in  carriages 
and  omnibuses  to  the  railroad  station,  which  they  left  at  ten,  and 
arrived  in  Baltimore  before  twelve  o'clock.  The  entire  trip  was  a  most 
pleas  int  one,  and  the  excursionists  could  scarcely  find  words  adequate 
in  which  to  express  their  thanks  to  the  noble-hearted  kindness  shown 
to  them  by  the  citizens  of  the  national  metropolis. 


THE 

RAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF   1857. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  STREET  RAILROAD  SYSTEM  OF  BAXTIMORE, 

The  day  succeeding  their  return  from  Washington  was  spent  by 
the  Western  guests  in  various  ways.  A  number,  under  the  escort  of 
their  friends,  were  emplo^-ed  in  visiting  the  different  points  of  interest 
about  the  city,  inspecting  the  public  institutions,  and  in  making 
themselves  generally  familiar  with  the  sights  and  scenes  of  Baltimore. 
The  private  hospitality  of  the  people  also  availed  itself  of  this  day  of 
leisure  from  more  public  observances  to  lavish  its  welcome  upon  the 
guests,  and  numerous  dinner  and  social  parties  took  place,  at  which 
different  delegations  of  the  visitors  were  entertained. 

The  most  important  business  of  the  day  was  an  official  inspection  of 
the  street  railroad  system,  by  which  Baltimore's  great  arteries  of 
railroad  communication  with  the  East,  West  North,  and  South  are  put 
in  unbroken  connection.  In  order  to  the  accomplishment  of  this  pur- 
pose a  number  of  the  official  visitors,  with  other  guests,  assembled  at 
the  Camden  Station,  upon  the  invitation  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  Company,  for  the  purpose  of  being  conveyed  over  the 
Pratt  street  track,  between  the  President  (or  Philadelphia  Road  Sta- 
tion) and  Camden  street  and  Mt.  Clare  (both  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Road)  Stations,  when  an  opportunity  was  afforded  them  for  viewing 
the  practical  working  of  the  system  of  street  railroads,  and  to  experi- 
ence its  utility  and  convenience  in  the  transmission  of  through  passen- 
gers and  freight  from  one  depot  to  another.  At  ten  o'clock  the  guests 
were  all  seated  in  one  of  the  capacious  new  omnibus-cars  of  the  Com- 
pany— No.  36 — drawn  by  six  bay  horses,  and  started  off  towards  the 
Pi'csideut  street  Station,  upon  their  miniature  journey  of  pleasure  and 


STREET    TRIP    IN    THE    PIIILADELPUIA    CAR.  127 

scientific  inspection.  Chauncy  Brooks,  President  of  the  Baltimore 
and  (^hio  Railroad  Conijiany,  and  Henry  Tyson,  master  of  machinery, 
accompanied  the  excursionists — also  Samuel  ^Y.  Smith  and  John  W. 
(Jarrett,  of  the  Board  of  Directors.  The  "Western  cities,  upon  this 
interesting  occasion,  were  represented  by  the  following  named  officials 
and  citizen  visitors :  From  the  city  council  of  Cincinnati,  J.  S.  Ross, 
G.  W.  Skaats,  T.  Marsh,  Thomas  H.  Weisner,  John  J.  Torrence, 
Theojwlus  Gains,  James  Keenan,  Daniel  Gruney,  H.  Keirsted  and 
Daniel  Hannan ;  .Judges  Pruden  and  Saffin,  of  the  Cincinnati  Police 
Coui  t ;  Henry  B.  Brown.  Police  Prosecuting  Attornej^  J.  M.  Sharp, 
General  Agent  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  at  the  "West ;  F. 
Leinburg,  an  attache  of  the  Cincinnati  '"  Volksfreund,"  and  a  number 
of  other  Cincinnatians  were  also  in  the  car. 

From  the  Board  of  Aldermen  of  St.  Louis,  Charles  H.  Tillson  and 
Henry  C.  Lynch,  with  Henry  W.  Williams,  Dr.  C.  W.  Spaulding, 
and  other  St.  Louisians — the  company  numbering  about  forty-five  or 
fift}'.  During  the  ride  to  tlie  President  street  depot,  a  partial  oppor- 
tunity was  afforded  the  visitors  for  viewing  the  wharves,  shipping,  &c., 
and  frequent  halts  were  made  at  points  along  the  route.  At  the  depot 
an  hour  was  spent  in  examining  the  buildings,  &c.  At  eleven  o'clock, 
the  company  re-embarked,  and  were  quicklj^  gliding  back  over  the  rails 
to  Mount  Clare,  the  "outer"  Station  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  or 
the  western  border  of  the  city.  Here  arc  located  the  extensive  shops 
of  the  Company  for  the  manufacture  of  locomotives,  and  the  other 
machinery  of  the  read. 

The  large  shops,  Nos.  11  and  9,  were  in  full  operation,  and  the  visi- 
tors were  shown  through  them  ii>  the  charge  of  President  Brooks  and 
Henrj^  Tj-son,  master  of  macl;inery.  The  scientific  knowledge  of  the 
latter  enabled  him  to  impart  much  information  to  the  visitors.  There 
are  generally  emplovcd  in  the.se  shojjs  over  a  thousand  workmen. 
An(jther  hour  was  thus  spent  in  the  inspection  of  the  extensive  works, 
machinery,  &c.,  and  at  12  o'clock,  the  company  again  took  seats  in  the 
excursion  car.  Here,  literally  "upon  the  rails,"  a  railroad  meeting 
was  organized,  and  on  motion  of  Judge  Pruden,  of  Cincinnati,  John 
W.  Garrett,  of  the  Board  of  Dircctcjrs  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Kail  road,  was  called  upon  for  a  speech. 

In  introducing  the  motion  the  Judge  remarked  that  as  there  were 
some  interesting  features  in  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Com- 
pany's street  connections,  &c,,  regarding  which  the  visitors  desiied 
further  information,  he  was  influenced  by  Mr.  Garrett's  knowledge  of 


128         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

the  same,  in  calling  upon  that  gentleman  for  a  statement.     Mr.  Garrett 
arose  and  responded  as  follows  : 

He  premised  that  the  guests  had  been,  doubtless,  fatigued  witli  the  nnmerons 
speeches  to  which  they  had  recently  listened.  He  would  be  brief,  and  should 
decline  altogether  the  invitation,  had  not  so  much  interest  been  manifested  on 
the  subject  of  our  system  of  street  railroads,  especially  by  our  friends  from 
Cincinnati. 

It  is  gratifying,  said  Mr.  Garrett,  to  find  around  us  so  numerous  and  intel- 
ligent a  representation  of  the  councils  of  Cincinnati,  leaving  the  agi-eeable 
hospitalities  of  their  i'riends  for  a  practical  and  thorough  examination  of  the 
working  of  a  railroad  through  a  populous  and  active  portion  of  the  city,  im- 
pelled, as  I  understand  they  are,  by  a  desire  to  obtain  information  to  decide 
properly  for  the  interest  of  their  own  community  an  important  question  of  a 
similar  character. 

On  the  opening  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  its  principal  depot 
was  at  this  point,  (Mount  Clare,)  near  the  western  limits.  When  the  Phila- 
delphia, Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Road  was  built  its  Baltimore  Station 
was  about  two  miles  distant,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city.  Much  prejudice 
existed  against,  and  great  clamor  was  excited  by  an  application  for  a  connect- 
ing road  through  the  streets  to  facilitate  the  transportation  of  passengers  and 
freight  between  the  two  roads.  It  was  urged  that  by  the  grant  the  business 
of  draymen  and  laborers  would  be  diminished,  that  the  passage  of  vehicles  and 
the  general  transaction  of  business  in  the  thoroughfares  would  be  seriously 
interrupted,  and  that  the  chief  result  of  such  facilities  would  be  to  injure  the 
hotels  of  the  city,  by  inducing  travellers  to  pass  at  once  through  Baltimore,  with 
scarcely  a  glance  at  its  merchants  and  business  advantages. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  comprehensive  view  was  presented  that  at  all  im- 
portant commercial  points  there  were  competing  lines  to  the  East ;  that  the 
New  York  Cental,  New  York  and  Erie,  and  the  Pennsylvania  Central  Roads, 
all  tendered  their  best  facilities,  with  the  least  interruption  practicable,  to 
induce  patronage  to  their  respective  routes,  and  that,  unless  Baltimore  oflFered 
every  possible  inducement  of  speed  and  economy  of  shipment,  travel  and  trade 
would  avoid  her  and  flow  into  other  channels ;  that  the  ultimate  result  would 
be  to  attract  a  large  increase  of  business  through  Baltimore  ;  that  many  pas- 
sengers, tor  convenience,  from  fatigue  and  other  causes,  though  designing  to 
visit  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  would  rest  at  Baltimore,  and  gradually  open 
and  improve  intercourse  with  her  merchants,  and  such  general  increase  in 
business  would  permanently  advance  the  interests  of  all,  including  the  laboring 
classes. 

Fortunately  for  the  city,  the  privilege  of  the  connecting  road  was  granted, 
and  it  has  been  found  to  work  most  beneficially  for  all  the  great  interests 
involved.     As  you  have  seen  in  passing  this  morning,  in  this  large  and  com- 


SPEKCII    OF    JOHN    W.    GARRETT   ON    STREET    RAILROADS.        129 

modious  car,  through  Pratt,  one  of  our  most  crowded  and  active  commercial 
streets,  its  general  business  is  not  interrupted.  A  vast  increase  of  local  busi- 
ness has  resulted  under  the  liberal  policy  of  Baltimore.     Our  system — 

"  To  welcome  the  coming,  speed  the  parting  guest," 
and  to  impose  no  unnecessary  tribute  on  freights  destined  for  other  markets, 
(whilst  under  the  tariff  arrangements  of  the  road  fully  protecting  and  discrimi- 
nating in  favor  of  Baltimore,)  attracts,  as  it  merits,  approval  from  the  travel- 
ling and  business  public,  and  our  hotels,  our  merchants,  and  all  interested  in 
the  prosperity  of  Baltimore  feel  its  favorable  effects. 

I  have  referred  especially  to  the  connection  over  which  you  have  just  passed. 
The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road  has,  additionally,  a  street  connection  with  the 
Northern  Central  Road,  and  a  branch  to  Locust  Point,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
harbor,  where  freights  destined  coastwise  are  most  economically  shipped. 

Gentlemen  of  Cincinnati,  you  have  recently  added  an  important  source 
of  increased  greatness  to  your  rapidly  improving  city — the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi Road.  You  have,  I  learn,  a  distance  of  two  miles  from  its  station  to  the 
depot  of  the  road,  which  connects  your  city  with  our  great  line.  It  is  said  the 
grades  and  the  streets  are  favorable  to  the  proposed  connection.  In  the  judoinent 
of  those  familiar  with  the  subject,  this  interruption  in  your  great  southern,  east 
and  west  line  is  equivalent  in  delay  and  cost  to  a  distance  of  100  miles  of  road. 

We  trust  your  practical  examination  of  the  subject  here,  endorsed  by  the 
satisfactory  experience  of  years,  will  enable  you  to  decide  that  the  interest  of 
your  community  will  be  promoted  in  removing  this  sole  difficulty  in  the  line, 
by  perfecting  the  iron  bands,  and  thus  completing  the  chain  from  the  Chesa- 
peake to  the  MississippL 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  address,  the  car  containing  the  excursion- 
ists was  started  forward,  and  the  topic  of  the  speech  furnished 
abundant  material  for  conversation  and  further  discussion  among  the 
officials  and  guests,  all  of  whom  manifested  the  utmost  interest  in 
every  thing  connected  with  the  system — assured  as  they  were  of  its 
utility  and  importance.  When  the  car  arrived  oppposite  the  Maltby 
House  the  guests  were  discharged  therefrom,  and  returned  to  their 
several  hotels  in  time  to  dine.  Altogether,  the  trip,  combining  as  it 
did  the  pleasure  as  well  as  the  interest  of  the  participants,  was  one  of 
the  most  practically  important  that  engaged  the  attention  of  the 
visitors  during  their  stay  at  Baltimore. 

A  meeting  of  the  Chillicotheans  present  in  Baltimore  city  was  held 
at  Barnum's  Hotel,  on  the  21st  of  July,  1857.     Edward  Adams,  Mayor 
of  Chillicothe.  was  called  to  the  Chair,  and  A.  Pearson  appointed  Secre- 
tary.   On  motion  of  Hon.  W.  B.  Franklin,  seconded  by  S.  W.  Ely,  it  was 
ti* 


130         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Resolved^  That  the  unwonted  kindness,  nnremitted  attention,  manifest  hos- 
pitality, and  princely  liberality,  so  gracefully  accorded  us  by  the  municipal 
officers,  citizens  of  Raltimore,  and  officers  of  the  railroads  united  in  the  excur- 
sion we  are  now  celebrating,  command  our  profound  gratitude,  and  have 
erected  for  them,  in  each  of  our  hearts,  a  monument  of  memory  which  shall 
endure  throughout  our  existence. 

Resolved,  That  this  resolution  be  attested  by  the  officers  of  this  meeting, 
and  communicated  to  the  press  of  Baltimore,  to  whose  assiduous  civilities  we 
are  greatly  indebted.  E.  ADAMS,  Chairman. 

A.  Pearson,  Secretary. 


THE 

RAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF  1857. 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE  WESTERN  GUESTS  ON  THE  CHESAPEAKE -TRIP  TO  OLD  POINT 
COMFORT,  NORFOLK,  AND  PORTSMOUTH. 

Moor  N.  Falls,  President  of  the  famous  Chesapeake  Bay  steamers, 
having  renewed  his  generous  in\itation  to  the  Western  guests,  to  visit 
Norfolk  by  that  favorite  Une,  received  the  following  note  of  acceptance 
on  the  22d  July : 

Baltimore,  July,  22,  1857. 
M.  X.  Falls,  President  of  the  Norfolk  Steamboat  Company  : 

Dear  Sir : — I  am  instructed  by  the  excursionists  from  Ohio,  (who  have 
been  the  guests  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Washington,  and  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad  Company,)  to  tender  to  jon  their  grateful  acknowledgments  for 
the  generous  offer  by  which  j-ou  propose  to  extend  the  excursion,  and  on  their 
behalf  accept  your  invitation  to  take  a  voyage  on  one  of  your  fine  steamers  to 
Korfolk.  We  shall  be  pleased  to  leave  Baltimore  in  compliance  with  your 
suggestion,  on  Wednesday  evening,  at  5  o'clock  P.  M.,  July  22. 
Respectfally  yours, 

B.  EGGLE5T0N, 

Chairman  of  Committee. 

The  splendid  steamer  North  Carolira,  of  the  Bay  Line,  accordingly 
left  the  Company's  wharf  foot  of  Concord  street,  on  "Wednesday  even- 
ing, .July  22d,  about  half-past  five  o'clock.  She  was  under  the  charge 
of  the  following  ofiBcei's  :     Capt.  James  Cannon  ;  Clerk,  L.  B.  Parks ; 


132         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Through  Agents,  Messrs.  George  S.  Allen  and  James  B.  George,  Jr. 
Moor  N.  Falls,  the  liberal  President  of  the  Company,  was  on  board 
during  the  entire  trip,  and  was  assiduous  and  successful  in  his  en- 
deavors to  make  everybody  comfortable. 

There  were  on  board  some  two  hundred  of  Baltimore's  guests,  from 
the  cities  of  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  and  Chillicothe,  they  being  on  this 
occasion  the  special  guests  of  the  Bay  Line  of  steamers.  A  number  of 
the  members  of  the  Baltimore  City  Council  were  also  on  board,  as  well 
as  several  citizens  of  Baltimore,  who  accompanied  their  friends  from 
the  West.  The  whole  number  of  passengers  was  hardly  less  than 
three  hundred.  The  run  down  the  river  and  bay  was  most  delightful, 
the  refreshing  breeze  proving  quite  acceptable  to  the  excursionists, 
who  had  been  somewhat  worn  down  by  the  heat  and  exertions  of  the 
few  previous  days.  The  band  of  the  National  Guards  of  St.  Louis, 
and  Menter's  Comet  Band  of  Cincinnati,  were  both  on  board.  On 
passing  Forts  McHenry  and  Carroll,  near  the  harbor  of  Baltimore,  the 
bands  played  "  The  Star  Spangled  Banner  "  and  "  Hail  Columbia." 
The  large  party  on  board,  soon  after  dark,  sat  down  to  a  bountifully- 
supplied  supper,  which  was  partaken  of  with  a  gusto  only  to  be 
appreciated  by  those  who  know  by  experience  what  it  is  to  have 
an  appetite  sharpened  by  a  thirty  miles'  ride  on  the  beautiful  Chesa- 
peake. 

After  supper  the  party  scattered  over  the  spacious  boat,  and  soon 
the  noble  steamer  presented  what  might  not  inaptly  be  termed  a  Car- 
nival scene.  On  almost  every  accessible  part  of  her  some  kind  of 
amusement  was  going  forward.  On  the  lower  deck  the  devotees  of 
Terpsichore  held  full  sway,  and  until  long  after  midnight  a  gay  and 
happy  party  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  tripping  it  lightly,  to  a  band 
of  very  good  cotillion  music.  In  the  main  saloon  a  musical  and  dra- 
matic soiree  was  organized,  and  amid  songs  and  recitations,  jokes  and 
flows  of  wit,  the  hours  flew  rapidly  awaj'.  This  party  were  indebted 
to  Col.  Johnson  and  Mr.  George  S,  Allen,  of  Baltimore,  and  Alfred 
Burnett,  of  Cincinnati,  for  their  proficient  and  ready  contributions  to 
the  general  entertainment.  While  these  proceedings  were  going  on, 
the  military  bands  played  alternately  upon  the  upper  deck,  and,  alto- 
gether, the  company  was  one  of  the  happiest  ever  on  board  a  steamer. 
It  was  long  after  midnight  before  the  various  parties  of  pleasure  broke 
up.  On  Thursday  morning  at  sunrise,  the  party  found  themselves 
rapidly  approaching  Old  Point  Comfort.     The  water  was  rather  more 


THE  VISIT  TO  OLD  POINT  COMFORT  AND  THE  FORTIFICATIONS.    133 

rough  there  than  higher  up  the  bay,  yet  the  weather  was  exceedingly 
pleasant.  The  steamer  reached  Fortress  Monroe  about  six  o'clock, 
after  one  of  the  most  pleasant  trips  ever  made  between  Baltimore  and 
Old  Point. 

As  soon  as  the  North  Carolina  was  made  fast  to  the  wharf,  the 
guests  proceeded  to  Fortress  Monroe.  The  commanding  officer  and 
his  aids  were  unremitting  in  their  attentions,  and  in  a  very  brief  space 
of  time  all  objects  of  interest  connected  with  these  gieat  fortifications 
were  made  familiar  to  the  guests.  Many  souvenirs  were  collected 
within  the  Forts  and  along  the  shores  of  the  noble  Bay,  and  after  a  stay 
of  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  the  North  Carolina  cast  loose  and  steamed 
away  up  the  broad  river  for  Portsmouth,  opposite  Norfolk,  the  termi- 
nal station  for  the  Bay  steamers. 

The  United  States  sloop-of-war  Germantown,  desitned  to  join  the 
squadron  in  the  Chinese  waters,  was  lying  in  the  stream  as  the  steamer 
approached  Norfolk.  The  North  Carolina  had  on  board  some  twenty 
recruits  intended  to  complete  her  crew ;  she  lay  to  in  the  stream,  and 
the  boats  of  the  Germantown  were  lowered  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
them  on  board.  As  the  boats  bearing  the  recruits  neared  the  German- 
town,  her  yards  Avere  manned,  her  sails  unfurled  and  spread  to  the 
breeze.  During  the  day  she  took  her  departure  for  the  land  of  the 
Celestials.  The  wheels  of  the  North  Carolina  were  again  put  in  mo- 
tion, her  head  turned  towards  Portsmouth,  and  amid  the  firing  of  guns, 
the  cheers  of  the  populace,  the  bristling  of  bayonets  on  the  wharf,  and 
the  pleasant  smiles  of  hundreds  of  the  fair  daughters  of  the  Old  Do- 
minion, she  reached  the  wharf.  Whilst  at  Old  Point,  Messrs.  "W 
Reed,  Joseph  Price,  and  M.  W.  M  inter,  on  the  part  of  the  council,  and 
Dr.  Arthur  B.  Smith,  and  JNIessrs.  Holt,  Wilson,  and  G.  Henderson, 
on  the  part  of  the  citizens,  came  on  board,  and  generously  welcomed 
the  guests  to  Portsmouth.  A  committee  from  Norfolk  also  came  on 
board,  and  tendered  a  like  welcome  to  their  city. 

The  North  Carolina  reached  Portsmouth  about  eight  o'clock  on 
Thursday  morning,  and  immediately  a  salute  of  fifteen  guns  was  fired 
by  the  National  Guard.  The  excursionists  formed  on  the  lower  deck, 
and  to  the  strains  of  the  inspiriting  music  of  the  St.  Louis  band,  the 
people  of  Missouri  and  Ohio  marched  on  the  soil  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
Here  the  committees  who,  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  and  council,  had 
come  down  in  the  steamer  from  Old  Point,  handed  over  the  guests  to 
the  following  committee  of  reception  : 


134         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 


Mayor. 
James  Gregory  Hodges. 


John  T.  West, 
W.  AY.  Peed, 
A.  C.  Moore, 


Samuel  Watts, 
Thomas  Brooks,  Jr., 
D.  D.  Fiske, 


From  the  Council, 

W.  H.  Morris, 
Samuel  Hoffer, 
Wm.  W.  Davis, 

From  the  Citizens. 

Charles  A.  Grice, 
Wm.  II.  H.  Hodges, 
Johu  G.  Hatton, 


Samuel  Turner, 
0.  B.  Sherwood, 
V.  0.  Cassel. 


John  C.  Cooke, 
Captain  H.  N.  Page, 
John  W.  Young. 


From  the  Military. 

Lt.  Col.  D.  S.Walton,  Maj.  P.  11.  Daughtrey,  Surgeon  Geo.  W.  Peete, 
Capt.  Jas.  Richards,      Capt.  Edward  Kearns. 

The  lady  guests,  and  many  of  the  gentlemen  accompanying  them, 
were  speedily  placed  in  carriages,  and  the  others  of  the  party  formed 
in  procession,  and  proceeded  to  the  corner  of  North  and  Raceford 
streets,  where  they  were  received  by  the  military  and  City  authorities. 
Mayor  Hodges,  in  a  very  happy  style,  warmly  welcomed  the  guests  to 
Portsmouth.  He  remarked  that  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  Ports- 
mouth, as  well  as  those  of  her  twin-sister  city  of  Norfolk,  were  thrilled 
with  pleasure  at  the  coming  of  the  hardy  sons  of  the  West,  and  he  felt 
it  to  be  one  of  the  very  proudest  acts  of  his  life  to  bid  them  a  hearty 
welcome  to  the  city  of  Portsmouth. 

The  gallant  Mayor  was  fluently  and  acceptably  responded  to,  on 
behalf  of  the  visitors,  by  Mr.  Thompson,  of  Cincinnati,  who  thanked 
him  in  behalf  of  Missouri,  of  Ohio,  and  Maryland,  for  there  were  Bal- 
timorcans  in  the  ranks.  He  said  they  had  been  invited  to  Portsmouth 
as  friends,  and  as  such  they  had  come.  He  referred  to  the  fact  that 
the  visitors  from  the  West  had  come  at  the  bidding  of  this  people  as 
friends — that  though,  in  the  nature  of  republican  government,  there 
would  be  differences  of  opinion  and  different  creeds  respecting  many 
things,  yet,  in  regard  to  one  great  question  there  could  be  no  differ- 
ence of  opinion—  they  could,  they  must  and  would  be  single-minded, 
as  long  as  they  were  true  to  their  fathers  or  themselves,  in  defending 
and  preserving  tlie  Union.  He  continued  throvighout  his  speech  in 
the  same  glowing  strain. 


THE  ARRIVAL  AND  RECEPTION  AT  PORTSMOUTH.      135 

When  Mr.  Thompson  had  concluded,  the  procession  was  formed 
and  moved  off  in  the  following  order  :  Major  Daughtrey  ;  the  Ports- 
mouth Rifles,  Capt.  Richardson;  the  National  Grays,  Captain  Deams; 
the  Marion  Rifles,  Captain  Ilodges  ;  the  Union  Guards,  Captain  God- 
wins ;  the  Old  Dominion  Guards,  Captain  Kearns  ;  the  various  com- 
mittees of  the  city  of  Portsmouth  ;  the  delegations  from  the  West ; 
and  last,  though  by  no  means  the  least,  ladies  from  the  \Vest  in  car- 
riages. The  fine  bands  from  St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati,  as  well  as  one 
belonging  to  Portsmouth,  were  in  line.  The  procession  passed  through 
the  principal  streets  of  the  city,  across  many  of  which  were  suspended 
the  American  flag,  and  in  some  instances  those  of  other  nations  were 
suspended  with  our  own  proud  ensign.  The  streets  through  which  the 
procession  passed  were  filled  with  the  citizens,  and  at  a  number  of 
private  dwellings  the  guests  were  greeted  by  the  pleasant  smiles  of  the 
fair  ladies  of  the  city,  who  waved  their  handkerchiefs  and  flags,  and  in 
every  possible  manner  endeavored  to  show  their  Western  friends  that 
they  were  welcome. 

When  the  procession  reached  the  Navy  Yard,  it  was  met  at  the 
entrance  gate  by  Commodore  Dornin,  the  commander,  and  the  visitors 
received  a  cordial  invitation  to  view  the  works.  The  entire  party 
were  soon-  spread  through  the  yard,  and  many  novel  sights  to  them 
were  presented.  The  Diy  Dock  received  a  thorough  inspection,  and 
was  unanimously  pronounced  a  great  work.  The  thing  of  material  in- 
terest to  view  at  that  time  at  the  Gosport  Navy  Yard  was  the  fitting 
out  of  the  new  steam  frigate  Colorado,  built  there,  and  the  repairing 
of  the  Powhattan,  made  famous  by  her  participation  in  the  recent  com- 
mercial arrangement  with  Japan.  Another  object  of  considerable  in- 
terest was  the  old  frigate  New  York,  as  she  now  lies  in  the  ship  house, 
having  been  built  some  thirty  years  and  never  launched.  The  people 
from  the  West  could  not  understand  why  it  was  that  such  a  fine  ship 
should  thus  be  allowed  to  rot,  but  they  all  seemed  to  admire  every  thing 
connected  with  the  stupendous  works,  the  opinion  being  unanimous 
that  the  proper  way  for  our  country  to  maintain  peace  was  to  obey 
the  grand  injunction,  "in  time  of  peace  prepare  for  war."  The  mam- 
moth ship  Pennsylvania  was  also  visited,  her  accommodating  com- 
mander, Capt.  Tucker,  having  boats  ready  to  con-vey  such  of  the  party 
as  desired  to  go  on  board  from  the  Navy  Yard.  Whilst  the  guests 
were  on  board  of  this  proud  old  specimen  of  the  handiwork  of  our  country- 
men, the  officers  were  studious  in  their  attentions,  showing,  with  the 
greatest  politeness,  the  most  minute  details  of  the  ship.      The  band 


136         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    TUE    EAST. 

attached  to  the  Pennsylvania  discoursed  the  most  eloquent  music 
while  the  party  were  on  board,  and  after  all  had  satisfied  their  curi- 
osity, the  same  kindness  and  attention  were  showed  them  by  the  offi- 
cers in  regaining  the  shore.  About  half  past  eleven  the  tap  of  the 
drum  summoned  the  ladies  to  the  carriages  and  the  gentlemen  to  the 
line  of  the  procession,  which  being  again  formed  proceeded  to  the  Ma- 
con House,  where  the  citizens  and  authorities  had  provided  a  substan- 
tial collation. 

The  good  people  of  Portsmouth  called  their  entertainment  a  colla- 
tion, but  it  partook  very  much  in  its  nature  of  a  banquet.  Every  thing 
in  season  was  found  upon  the  tables  in  profusion,  and  champagne  and 
other  wines  fairly  flowed  in  streams.  After  the  guests  had  satisfied 
their  appetites,  Capt.  Watts,  of  Portsmouth,  arose  and  addressed  the 
company  in  a  felicitous  manner. 

He  remarked  that  the  great  West,  and  the  East,  had  recently  entered  into 
a  matrimonial  contract,  and  no  man  was  found  who  had  the  hardihood  to  for- 
bid the  bauns.  He  said  that  the  agreeable  meeting  of  to-day  had  satisfied  him 
that  the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  land  knew  no  East,  no  West,  no  North,  no 
South,  but  that  the  whole  country,  and  nothing  but  the  whole  country,  would 
satisfy  the  good  and  true  men  of  all  sections  of  the  Union. 

Judge  Carter,  of  Cincinnati,  was  next  vociferously  called  for  at  the 
conclusion  of  this  speech.  As  soon  as  order  was  in  a  measure  restored, 
the  Judge  rose  and  remarked  that,  although  he  and  his  fellow-citizens 
owed  allegiance  to  Ohio,  yet  they  considered  themselves  the  friends  of 
the  Old  Dominion  and  the  lovers  of  the  whole  Union. 

He  said  that  the  men  of  the  West  had  suddenly  come  among  the  citizens  of 
Virginia,  and  the  most  generous  hospitality  had  been  showered  upon  them.  He 
dilated  at  considerable  length  on  the  glories  of  the  American  Union,  and  paid 
a  high  compliment  to  the  good  old  State  in  which  he  had  accidentally,  almost 
he  might  say,  found  himself.  The  cities  Cincinnati,  Chillicothe,  and  St. 
Louis  claimed  to  be  the  sisters  of  Portsmouth  and  Norfolk,  and  awful  would  be 
the  responsibility  of  the  individual  who  should  attempt  to  break  the  bonds  of 
friendship  to-day  so  tightly  cemented.  These  communities  had  ever  been 
warmly  attached  friends,  and  doubly  cemented  as  they  were  now,  or  soon 
would  be,  by  bands  of  iron  and  the  union  of  hearts,  tbe  attacliment  must  last 
forever.  He  said  he  was  heartih'  gratified,  nay  more  than  gratified,  to  meet  on 
this  occasion  the  men  of  the  Ea.st  and  the  West.  He  and  his  friends  had  trav- 
elled from   the  Western  cities  over  stupendous  works,  and   all  they  had  seen 


THE    WELCOME   AND    THE    RESPONSES    AT    PORTSMOUTH.  137 

and   all  they  hud  heard  had  only  tended  to  make  them  the  stronger  lovers  of 
our  glorious  American  Union. 

He  concluded  by  offering  as  a  sentiment:  "The  cities  of  Norfolk  and 
Portsmouth — in  their  recent  great  distress  by  pestilence  they  had  the  heartfelt 
sympathies  of  the  entire  Union,  and  we  rejoice  to  see  their  prosperity  and  grow- 
ing greatness  to-day." 

Henry  W.  Williams,  of  St.  Louis,  rose  to  express  the  thanks  of  the 
Mi^sourians  for  this  overpowering  expression  of  esteem  and  respect. 
From  the  banks  of  that  mighty  stream,  the  Father  of  Waters,  he  said, 
to  the  justly  proud  Monumental  City  their  journey  had  been  a  tri- 
umphal one. 

The  Missourians,  he  continued,  had  great  capacity  for  enduring  comfort  and 
hospitalities,  but  this  excursion  had  over-tasked  their  powers ;  they  had  been 
literally  overwhelmed  with  kindness  and  friendly  attentions.  The  representa- 
tives of  the  West  were  here  to-day  to  shake  hands  with  the  East.  They  came 
with  a  higher  motive  than  their  own  selfish  enjoyment.  They  came 
to  unite  with  the  East  in  a  Union  which  should  obliterate  any  distinctions  or 
differences  between  the  North  and  South  ;  they  came  desirous  of  changing  the 
geographical  lines  which  had  been  drawn  ;  to  blot  out  that  line  which  had  been 
made  running  East  and  West,  and  to  establish  one  running  North  and  South 
— the  people  on  each  side  of  which  being  united,  as  upon  this  occasion,  in  the 
bonds  of  friendship,  would  render  the  Union  secure  and  perpetual.  There 
would  then  be  no  North  or  South, — our  whole  country  would  be  East  or  West. 
This  being  accomplished  while  Virginia,  the  Old  Dominion,  contained  the 
ashes  of  Washington,  and  Maryland  contained  all  that  was  mortal  of  Charles 
Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  the  fanatics  and  factionists  who  seek  to  destroy  that 
Union  could  not,  should  not,  accomplish  their  evil  designs. 

Those  States,  and  others  h^re  represented,  through  which  the  excursionists 
had  passed — indeed  all  of  the  glorious  thirty-one — were  bound  together  by  the 
strongest  ties  of  interest  and  of  consanguinity,  as  well  as  by  that  mutual  love 
of  countrj^  which  nothing  can  resist.  After  some  further  eloquent  and  much 
applauded  remarks,  Mr.  Williams  concluded  by  again  thanking  the  authorities 
and  people  of  Portsmouth  for  the  kindness  and  attention  paid  to  the  Western 
visitors  while  among  them. 

After  Mr.  Williams  closed,  and  as  the  ladies  were  conveyed  to  the 
Norfolk  ferry — a  summer-shower  fell  upon  the  scene.  The  ladies  were, 
however,  soon  transferred  to  the  ferry  boat  from  the  vehicles  by  the 
gentlemen  of  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth.  On  arriving  at  Norfolk  the 
guests  were  met  by  the  Artillery  Blues,  Capt.  Corprew,  and  the 
Juniors,  Capt.  E.  C.  Robinson.      The  ladies  were  placed  in  carriages 


138         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

by  a  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Sol. 
Cherry,  Jolin  E.  Tunis,  and  W.  0.  AVilliams,  and  soon  arrived  at  the 
National  Hotel,  where,  after  a  slight  rest,  they  were  regaled  with  a 
most  bountiful  diimer  by  those  gentlemen.  The  ladies  had  quite  a 
pleasant  time,  the  delicious  viands  and  champagne  were  freely  discussed, 
and  when  the  gentlemen  of  the  party  next  met  their  fair  friends  on 
board  the  North  Carolina,  whither  they  had  been  taken  in  carriages 
fi'om  the  hotel,  they  wore  most  cheerful  and  happy  faces,  and  were  as 
merry  as  crickets.  The  male  guests  were  escorted  from  the  ferr}^  by 
the  military,  INIayor  Ferguson,  and  Commodore  Dornin  and  other  naval 
officers,  a  committee  of  citizens,  composed  of  Messrs.  ]\Iyer  Myers, 
J.  I.  Bloodgood,  W.  IT.  C.  Lovett,  Stephen  Bonsall,  S.  R.  Bourne,  and 
Henry  Gheseline,  and  headed  by  the  two  bands  of  music,  marched  to 
jNIechanics'  Hall,  where  the  grand  reception  took  place.  The  hall  was 
soon  filled  to  ovei  flowing. 

The  ^layor  of  Norfolk,  Mr.  Ferguson,  rose  and  stated  that,  as  the 
chief  officer  of  the  city,  he  heartily  welcomed  the  guests  from  the 
Western  cities. 

We  are,  said  he,  the  more  pleased  to  welcome  you  from  the  fact  thiit  we 
hope  and  believe  that  at  no  distant  day  we  shall  be  allied  much  more  inti- 
mately than  at  present,  by  means  of  the  James  River  and  Kanawha  Canal. 
Situated  as  we  are  on  the  seaboard,  with  one  of  the  finest  hai'bors  on  the  iace 
of  the  earth,  it  becomes  our  duty  to  use  our  best  endeavors  to  cultivate  friendly 
feelings  with,  not  only  the  West,  but  with  the  entire  country.  We  shall  soon 
be  enabled  to  receive  your  Western  produce  in  our  harbor,  where  shortly  we  ex- 
pect to  see  the  flags  of  every  nation  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  Allow  me,  gen- 
tlemen,  in  the  name  of  the  corporation,  and  on  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Nor- 
folk, to  bid  you  a  most  hearty  welcome. 

When  the  applause  which  followed  the  Mayor's  remarks  had  some- 
what subsided,  Charles  D.  Drake,  of  St.  Louis,  rose  to  reply. 

He  said  this  was  the  first,  and  perhaps  to  many  nowhere  the  last  time  that 
the  present  company  might  ever  meet.  In  behalf  of  his  fellow  guests  from 
Ohio  and  Missouri,  he  would  return  his  heartfelt  thanks  for  the  very  kind 
manner  in  which  they  have  been  received  in  Norfolk.  The  invitation  to  make 
this  visit  had  come  upon  them  somewhat  imexpected,  whilst  they  were  re- 
ceiving the  munificent  hospitalities  of  the  Monumental  City.  Coming  thus 
suddenly,  on  short  notice,  travel- worn,  the  aspect  of  the  outer-man  against  us, 
we  certainly  present  an  unprepossessing  appearance — but  these  only  reflect  the 


THE  ARRIVAL  AND  RECEPTION  AT  NORFOLK.  '      139 

warmest  impul^^es  of  our  hearts,  and  the  generous  feeling  of  the  warm -hearted 
citizens  of  Norfolk  towards  us  is  almost  beyond  thanks. 

Of  all  who  have  come  from  the  West  with  us  I  am,  perhaps,  (said  Mr. 
Drake)  the  oldest  acquaintance  of  your  ancient  city.  A  curlj'-headed  red- 
faced  niidsbipraan,  on  the  19th  day  of  February,  1828,  fresh  from  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio,  sailed  from  Norfolk  in  that  good  old-ship-of-the-line  Delaware, 
then  and  for  many  years  later  the  pride  of  the  American  navy.  That  indi- 
vidual has  now  the  honor  of  addressing  you.  I  have  never  seen  Norfolk  since, 
until  to-day,  and  my  heart  has  been  gladdened  by  a  sight  of  her  once  more.  I 
am  proud,  doubly  proud,  to  return  backed  by  such  an  assemblage  as  have  re- 
ceived your  kindness  to-day.  We  come  from  that  section  of  the  continent,  on 
which  the  Almighty  has  set  his  seal  of  beauty  and  verdure — of  beautiful  land- 
scapes and  plains — from  a  soil  which  is  capable  of  producing  enough  to  feed 
the  world.  We  come  as  representatives  of  a  valley  boundless  in  extent — from 
the  great  valley  through  which  runs  the  noblest  river  in  the  world — from  the 
land  of  prairie,  where  the  labor  of  a  generation  is  not  needed  to  make  the  soil 
productive.  We  come  from  a  section  of  country  where  you  first  see  a  hamlet, 
then  a  village  springs  up,  a  town  succeeds,  which  soon  looms  into  the  impor- 
tance of  a  city.  This  all  occurs  whilst  the  foundation  of  a  house  is  being  laid, 
in  some  quarters. 

You  of  the  Atlantic  cities  have  your  grand  and  gio  antic  forts  of  defence  and 
magnificent  ships-of-war,  and  in  this  respect  we  are  unlike  you  ;  but  your  suc- 
cess in  your  magnificent  exchanges,  as  merchants,  as  traders,  as  manufacturers, 
creates  no  envy  in  our  hearts — on  the  contrary,  such  successes  only  tend  to 
make  the  heart  of  the  West  throb  with  joy.  We  of  the  West  have  our  glories 
too,  and  it  pleases  us  to  see  you  rejoice  in  our  prosperity.  We  are  not  now 
situated  as  we  were  a  short  time  ago — the  barriers  of  the  AUeghanies  have  beeu 
overcome — the  earth  is  no  longer  in  the  hands  of  nature — towns  and  cities 
have  sprung  up  as  if  by  magic — the  virgin  lands  of  the  West  are  now  producing 
immense  quantities  of  flour,  which  is  floated  down  the  beautiful  Ohio,  or  passed 
on  to  our  own  ]\Iissouri  by  rail.  We  are  looking  beyond — our  eyes  are  on  the 
Rocky  Mountains — on  San  Francisco — on  the  Pacific.  There  sits  our  beauti- 
ful section  of  country  in  all  her  majesty,  and  the  man  who  comes  to  this  sec- 
tion from  the  West  will  in  a  few  years  have  to  come  from  the  Pacific,  and  not 
from  that  region  of  country  from  whence  we  hail.  We  come  from  the  grand 
and  stately  centre  of  the  Union — a  Union  which  must  last  forever.  Who,  sir, 
is  it,  living  away  from  this  geographical  centre,  has  the  fatuity  to  predict  that 
this  Union  will  ever  dissolve  while  this  grand  centre  exists  ?  Should  the  at- 
tempt ever  be  unfortunately  made  to  detach  the  great  West  from  the  mouth  ot 
the  Mississipjji,  a  torrent  would  sweep  down  on  the  miscreant  such  as  was 
never  heard  of  before.  No  such  thing  can  come.  He  who  would  make  the 
attempt  must  first  try  to  forget  the  geography  of  his  country.     He  must  first 


140  EXCURSION    OP    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

cease  to  remember  that  the  hub  of  the  great  wheel  on  which  our  glorious  gov- 
ernment revolves  is  firmly  fixed  in  the  mighty  West.  Mr.  Drake  concluded  by 
again  thanking  the  Mayor  and  citizens  for  the  kind  reception  extended  to  the 
guests. 

Mr.  Chandler,  of  Norfolk,  followed. 

He  said  :  Brethren  from  the  setting  sun,  we  heartily  bid  you  welcome  to  the 
hospitalities  of  our  city.  We  can  show  you  no  splendid  monuments  of  archi- 
tecture— no  royal  exchange  in  which  merchants  do  most  delight  to  congregate  ; 
but  we  could  show  strangers  many  things  not  to  be  seen  elsewhere.  Many  now 
present  had  heard  to-day  for  the  first  time  the  roar  of  old  Ocean,  and  had  also 
witnessed  some  fine  specimens  of  naval  architecture.  We  of  Norfollc  have 
these  and  many  other  things  worthy  to  be  proud  of,  and  we  should  be  unworthy 
of  the  trust  did  we  not  feel  proud.  Our  good  old  city  has  been  said  by  many 
to  be  in  a  state  of  decay,  but,  said  he,  thank  God,  we  are  waking  up  from  our 
Kip  Van  Winkle  sleep.  Our  citizens  have  buckled  on  their  armor  and  have 
gallantly  entered  the  race  for  greatness — they  have  at  length  determined  to  use 
the  sinews  of  steel  and  joints  of  iron,  and  they  fervently  hope  to  bs  enabled 
within  a  short  time  to  join  hands  with  the  western  and  central  portion  of  the 
Union. 

Mr.  Chandler  said,  he  hoped  the  friendships  made  to-day  would  be  lasting, 
and  he  knew  that  as  sQon  as  Norfolk  had  completed  her  improvements,  as  things 
were  now  constituted  in  this  age  of  the  almighty  dollar,  the  people  of  the  an- 
cient city  and  her  brethren  in  the  West  could  not  by  any  possible  means  fail 
to  become  strong  and  lasting  friends.  After  setting  forth  at  considerable 
length  the  many  natural  advantages  of  the  city,  Mr.  Chandler  remarked  that 
with  a  few  words  to  the  fair  ladies  present  he  would  conclude. 

The  ladies,  said  he,  are  a  subject  of  which  my  heart  is  full.  In  the  course 
of  my  life  I  have  mixed  with  whiskered  and  moustached  men,  have  partici- 
pated, in  days  gone  by,  in  the  excitement  of  log  cabins  and  hard  cider,  while 
B'lme  of  my  most  esteemed  friends  may  have  an  indistinct  recollection  of  en- 
deavoring to  raise  the  longest  kind  of  hickory  poles.  These  and  other  mat- 
ters have  been  subjects  of  excitement,  but  I  always  feel  a  queer  sensation  in  the 
presence  of  ladies,  and  I  must  say  I  feel  proud  and  gratified  to  see  so  many  of 
the  fairest  part  of  creation  from  the  Western  cities  present  to-day.  Where 
they  are  seen  in  such  numbers  and  loveliness  every  thino-  is  safe.  The3'  were 
the  first  at  the  cross  and  the  la.st  at  the  sepulchre — they  were  ever  present 
where  deeds  of  mercy  were  to  be  performed — and  as  Daniel  Webster  once  said 
of  the  Constitution,  I  love  them  as  a  peculiar  institution.  A  learned  man  once 
remarked  tliat  the  world  was  governed  by  three  boxes,  the  cartridge-box,  the 
ballot-box,  and  the  band-box ;  and,  as  a  representative  of  the  married  men,  I 
must  say  that  last,  though  not  least,  is  the  band-box.      God  grant,  continued 


THE  COLLATION  AT  NORFOLK INCIDENTS.         1-41 

Mr.   C,   that  the  links  of  friendship  made  this  day  may  be  cemented  and 
made  stronger  day  by  day  till  time  shall  be  no  more. 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  remarks,  the  gallant  speaker  was  literally 
covered  by  a  shower  of  bouquets  thrown  at  him  by  the  ladies  present. 
He  bore  his  honors  quite  blushingly,  and  for  the  balance  of  the  day 
•was  quite  a  lion  among  the  fair  ones. 

The  ladies  were  taken  in  charge  by  the  Norfolk  Committee,  as 
previously  stated,  and  the  gentlemen  formed  in  procession  and  marched 
to  the  Assembly  Rooms,  where  a  bountiful  collation  was  awaiting 
them.  After  justice  was  done  to  the  viands,  the  Mayor  arose  and 
read  the  regular  toasts,  viz :  "  The  Union  of  the  States ;'  "  The  Guests 
from  the  West;"  "The  City  of  Baltimore;"  "The  President  of  the 
United  States;"  "The  Father  of  Waters  and  the  Chesapeake;"  "  The 
Governor  of  Virginia ;"  "The  Army  and  Xavy;"  "  The  Ladies."  Elo- 
quent speeches  were  made  by  the  Mayor  of  Norfolk  ;  Judge  Carter,  of 
Cincinnati;  Messrs.  Tillston  and  O'Conner,  of  Ohio,  and  Hallam,  of 
Kentucky ;  Lieut.  Fyfe,  of  the  sloop  of  war  Germantown ;  Geo.  S. 
Allen,  of  the  steamer  North  Carolina,  and  several  others. 

The  toast  to  Baltimore  was  highly  complimentary,  and  was  followed 
by  three  hearty  cheers.  Loud  calls  were  made  for  John  B.  Sciden- 
stricker,  but  that  gentleman  having  previously  left  for  Old  Point, 
Neilson  Poe — a  prominent  member  of  the  Baltimore  Bar — responded 
in  a  few  happy  remarks.  He  said  what  Baltimore  had  done  to  make 
her  so  lovelj'  to  the  people  of  Norfolk  she  was  ready  to  do  again  should 
the  unfortunate  necessity  occur,  but  this  was  an  event  which  he  and 
his  fellow-citizens  trusted  the  Almighty  would  avert.  Mr.  Poe  made 
an  excellent  speech,  as  he  always  does. 

During  their  stay  at  Norfolk  a  large  number  of  the  excursionists 
repaired  to  the  hospitable  mansion  of  Mr.  Ball,  where  champagne  corks 
flew  merrily  for  a  short  time,  and  many  pleasant  things  were  said  and 
done.  Among  other  gentlemen  who  made  short  addresses  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Ball,  was  Capt.  Pritchard,  of  the  National  Guards  of  St. 
Louis.  His  remarks  were  most  happily  conceived,  and  uttered  with  a 
vehemence  which  at  once  proved  that  all  he  said  came  from  the  heart. 

At  five  o'clock,  on  Thurday  afternoon,  the  entire  party  being  on 
board,  the  North  Carolina  cast  loose  from  the  Norfolk  wharf  amid  the 
cheers  of  hundreds  of  citizens,  and  steamed  over  to  Portsmouth,  on 
her  return  to  Baltimore.  A  large  number  of  the  citizens  of  Norfolk 
accompanied  the  party  to  Portsmouth,  and  many  went  as  far  as  Old 


142  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

Point  Comfoit — sixteen  miles  distant — where  they  were  reluctantly 
compelled  to  leave  their  newly  made  friends.  Whilst  waiting  at 
the  wharf  at  Noifolk,  nearly  all  the  ladies  of  the  partj-  being  in  the 
upper  saloon  of  the  North  Carulina,  loud  calls  were  made  for  Mr. 
Chandler,  who,  having  survived  the  broadside  of  bouquets  which  were 
aimed  at  him  a  few  hours  previously,  came  forward,  and  for  about 
ten  minutes  entertained  those  present  with  a  strain  of  witty  remarks. 
The  Seaboard  Road  train  having  arrived,  and  its  passengers  safely  on 
board,  the  North  Carolina  gently  swept  out  from  the  Portsmouth 
wharf  amid  the  most  vociferous  cheering  from  hundreds  collected 
there.  One  of  the  bands  played  an  appropriate  tune  as  she  passed  out 
of  the  harbor,  and  the  yards  of  the  Germantown  were  manned  by  her 
hundreds  of  gallant  tars  dressed  in  clean  white  pantaloons  and  blue 
jackets.  The  boat  stopped  but  a  moment  or  so  at  Old  Point  Comfort, 
where  the  five  hundred  ladies  and  gentlemen  then  sojourning  there, 
were  assembled  on  the  wharf  to  greet  the  excursionists  as  they  passed. 
Mentor's  Cincinnati  Band  treated  them  to  fine  strains  of  music  whilst 
we  briefly  stopped.  The  North  Carolina  again  started  up  the  Bay, 
amid  the  cheers  of  the  gentlemen  and  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs  by 
the  ladies.  The  return  trip  was  pleasant  in  the  extreme,  but  the  party 
being  exhausted  with  the  fatigue  of  the  day,  generally  retired  at  au 
early  hour.  The  North  Carolina  reached  her  wharf  at  Baltimore  about 
seven  o'clock,  on  Friday  morning ;  previous  to  her  arriving,  however, 
the  guests  and  all  on  board  partook  of  one  of  those  famous  fish  break- 
fasts peculiar  to  the  Chesapeake  Bay  Line. 

Before  reaching  the  wharf  a  meeting  of  the  "Western  excursionists 
was  held  in  the  main  saloon  of  the  steamer,  when  the  annexed  pro- 
ceedings were  had,  as  reported  in  the  Baltimore  Patriot : 

MEETING    OF    THE    WESTERN    EXCrRSIOMSTS. 

At  a  meeitng  of  the  excur.^ionists  from  Oliio  and  Missouri,  held  on  board  of 
the  steamer  North  Carolina,  on  Friday,  July  24th,  18j7,  Benjamin  Eggleston, 
of  Cincinnatti,  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  John  D.  Caldwell,  of  Cincinnati, 
appointed  secretary. 

On  motion  of  Charles  D.  Drake,  of  St.  Louis,  the  following  resolutions  were 
adopted  by  acclamation : 

Resolved,  1.  That  we  lender  to  the  civil  authorities  and  citizens  of  Balti- 
more, Washington  City,  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth,  our  cordial  and  sincere 
thunlvs  for  the  hearty  and  miniifioent  hospitality  we  have  received  at  their 
hands,  and  for  the  iimumfrable  individual  attentions  on  their  part,  which  have 
so  grc'itly  enhanced  our  enjoyment  in  our  sojourn  among  them. 


GENERAL  EXPRESSION  OF  THANKS  BY  THE  GUESTS.     143 

2.  That  in  our  courteous  reception  hv  the  President  of  the  United  States 
and  tiie  members  of  the  Cabinet,  at  the  White  House,  we  reJDice  to  see,  on  their 
part,  an  appreciation  of  the  vahie  to  the  comicry  of  social  iiitcrchaiiire  such  as 
we  have  participated  in,  assuring  us  of  their  patriotic  regard  for  tlie  welfare  of 
the  whole  people. 

3.  That  our  thanks  are  due,  and  are  hereby  most  kindly  presented  to  the 
different  railroad  companies  whose  courtesy  has  been  extended  to  us,  and  for 
the  unceasing  efforts  of  the  officers  of  those  roads  over  whirh  we  have  passed 
to  render  our  travel  safe  and  agreeable. 

4.  That  we  would  in  a  special  manner  commend  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad — with  which  the  idea  of  this  excursion  originated — to  persons  in  all 
parts  of  the  country  as  an  excellent  and  delightful  route  for  travellers.  Wo 
would  particularly  express  our  high  admiration  of  the  skill,  care,  and  apparent 
perfection  of  every  thing  about  its  management,  and  have  no  hesitation  iu 
pronouncing  it  the  best  constioxcted,  and  one  of  the  safest  railroads  of  which  we 
have  any  knowledge. 

5.  That  our  thanks  be  likewise  presented  to  the  proprietors  of  the  steamboat 
line  between  Baltimore  atid  Norfolk  for  their  kind  invitation  to  visit  Norfolk 
and  Portsmouth  ■  on  their  boats,  and  for  the  very  courteous  treatment  we 
received  on  board  the  noble  steamer  North  Carolina,  in  going  to  and  returning 
from  those  cities. 

6.  That  in  the  interchange  between  different  portions  of  the  country,  of 
social  courtesies  such  as  we  have  enjoyed,  we  see  a  means,  heretofore  almost 
unknown,  of  cultivati  ig  a  bi'oader  an.l  deeper  nationality  of  feeling,  aad  of 
binding  us  together  more  closely  in  the  ties  of  brotherhood,  and  consequently 
of  cementing  more  firmly  the  sacred  Union  of  these  States;  and  we  would 
express  the  earnest  hope  that  similar  excursions  may  bec;onie  frequent — par- 
ticularly between  parts  of  our  country  which  have  not  been  called  heretofore  by 
the  demands  of  business  to  the  establishment  of  close  intercourse. 

7.  That  the  Press  generally,  and  particularly  that  of  Baltimore  and  Wash- 
ington City,  Norfolk,  Portsmouth,  Cincinnati,  Chillicothe,  and  St.  Louis,  be 
requested  to  publish  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  with  three  cheers. 

BENJ.  G.  EGGLESTON,  Chairman. 
John  D.  Caldwell,  Secretary. 

We  should  not  clo.se  this  account  of  a  delightful  trip  without  sajnng  a 
word  in  praise  of  the  gallant  officers  of  the  noble  steamer  North  Carolina. 
From  the  time  the  boat  left  her  wharf  at  Baltimore  until  her  return, 
each  and  all  of  them  were  unremitting  in  their  attention  to  the  pas- 
sengers, their  wishes  as  it  were  being  in  many  cases  anticipated.  They 
freely  abandoned  their  own  comforts  and  conveniences  for  the  purpose 
of  making  tlie  guests  comfortable,  and  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  they 
made  an  impression  upon  all  their  numerous  guests  which  will  never 
be  erased. 


THE 

KAILWAY   CELEBRATIONS   OF   1857. 


CHAPTER     XL 

CONCLUDING    REFLECTIONS -THE   POSITION    OF   BALTIMORE:    ITS  AT- 
TRACTIVE  SURROUNDINGS. 

In  bringing  to  a  close  this  narrative  of  the  incidents  attending  the 
hospitable  reception  and  noble  entertainment  of  the  "Western  guests,  it 
may  not  be  inappropriate  to  dwell  for  a  moment  upon  its  salient  points. 
These  are  to  be  found  in  its  social  and  friendly  design,  in  the  com- 
pleteness with  which  that  design  was  carried  out,  interesting  in  its 
execution  the  representative  people  of  four  States  and  three  great 
Cities,  and  in  the  happy  fraternal  feelings  which  it  did  so  much  in  creat- 
ing, and  is  still  powerful  in  perpetuating.  The  unceasing  clangor 
and  rivalry  of  business  that  pervade  the  land,  and  the  excessive  polit- 
ical excitements  which  seem  inherent  in  our  system  of  government 
require  the  opiate  influence  of  these  public  festivals,  by  which  the 
people  of  different  States  and  sections  may  be  brought  together  to  rub 
off  the  asperities  that  variant  interests  may  have  created,  or  to  gather 
strength  for  a  common  purpose  from  the  increase  of  confidence  and 
respect,  of  which  such  opportunities  for  fraternization  and  communion 
are  productive.  In  these  aspects  the  Railroad  Celebrations  of  1857 
were  eminently  successful.  In  the  wide  ciicle  of  Eastern  guests,  who 
enjoj'cd  the  abounding  hospitalities  of  the  West  in  June  last,  he  must 
be  a  dullard  indeed  who  has  not  some  treasured  souvenirs  of  his  ex- 
perience at  that  time ;  to  whom  the  mention  of  Cincinnati,  St.  Louis, 
Chillicothe,or  even  of  little  Vincennes,  (whose  citizens  crowded  a  wealth 
of  hearty  reception  and  sumptuous  entertainment  into  a  brief  hour's 
halt,)  does  not  bring  a  pleasant  excitation  of  the  blood  and  a  warmer 
beating  of  the  heart.  Equally  fruitful  of  these  minute  but  strong  ties, 
M'hich  bind  together  cities  and  States  by  appealing  to  the  highest 


ABUNDANT  ATTKACTIVENESS  OF  BALTIMORE — ITS  LOCATION.    145 

attributes  of  their  people,  was  the  visit  of  the  Western  excursionists 
to  Baltimore  and  its  vicinity.  They  were  invited  as  honored  and 
desired  guests,  were  received  as  esteemed  and  welcome  friends,  for 
whose  entertainment  and  pleasure  all  that  the  most  cordial  sociality 
could  suggest,  or  an  earnest  desire  to  do  them  honor,  execute,  was  un- 
grudginglj^  lavished,  and  they  returned  to  their  homes  satiated  with 
enjoyment,  carrying  with  them  a  better  knowledge  of  the  commercial 
claims  and  facilities  of  Baltimore  than  any  thing  short  of  such  an 
actual  experience  could  have  produced,  whilst  the  social  attributes  of 
the  occasion  added  its  attractions  and  influences  to  the  knowledge  thus 
gained. 

The  citizens  of  Baltimore  found  the  visit  productive  of  results 
eminently  gratifying.  They  were  enabled  to  repay  to  their  friends  of 
the  West  the  obligations  of  courtesy  and  hospitality  under  which 
they  had  been  placed,  and  at  the  same  time  make  manifest  that  Balti- 
more possessed  within  herself  the  resources  of  a  great  city,  in  which 
the  visitor  can  supply  all  his  business  wants,  whilst  finding  there  also 
an  abundant  field  for  the  gratification  of  his  social  instincts.  The 
guests  themselves  found  in  Baltimore  and  its  vicinity  a  variety  of 
scenes  and  objects  of  interest  that  fully  gratified  their  appetite  for  sight- 
seeing,— so  entirely,  indeed,  as  to  induce  the  great  majority  of  the 
excursionists  to  forego  their  intention  of  proceeding  farther  north, 
and  to  lead  them  to  return  home  with  the  impression  that  what  they 
had  seen,  heard,  and  experienced,  was  quite  as  much  as  the  most  exi- 
geant  of  tourists  could  desire  for  the  result  of  one  trip  to  the  Atlantic 
.seaboard. 

The  attractions  of  Baltimore  were  on  that  occasion  proved  to  be 
manifold.  Its  advantageous  location,  its  pleasant  and  salubrious  cli- 
mate, its  magnificent  monuments,  its  great  public  institutions,  the  ele- 
gant private  residences,  which  the  industry  and  taste  of  its  residents 
have  contributed,  the  beautiful  suburban  retreats  that  surround  it,  and 
the  bountiful  hospitality  that  its  people  are  so  prompt  to  ofier  to  those 
whom  they  receive  as  friends,  each  and  all  in  turn  were  examined  and 
enjoyed  by  the  visitors.  No  city  in  the  Union  is  surrounded  by  more 
(.bjects  of  beauty  and  interest.  Lippincott's  Gazetteer,  an  impartial 
witness,  may  be  quoted  in  confirmation  of  this  assertion. 

"  Perhaps  no  city  in  the  United  States  has  such  a  picturesque  site  as  Balti- 
more, covering  as  it  does  a  number  of  eminences  which  furnish  a  pleasant 
variety  for  the  stranger.     If  the  visitor  ascends  the  Washington  Monument,  in 

T 


146  EXCUBSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

the  northern  part  of  the  city,  on  a  hill  itself,  one  hundred  feet  above  tide,  he 
has  one  of  the  finest  panoramas  furnished  by  any  city  in  the  Union.  Imme- 
diately beneath  and  around  him  are  some  of  the  most  capacious  streets,  lined 
•with  residences  rarely  equalled  in  elegance,  size  and  position.  To  the  north 
and  north-west  are  the  newer  and  finer  buildings,  constituting  the  ton  quarter 
of  the  city,  while  to  the  south  lies  the  great  centre  of  trade ;  a  little  to  the 
south-east  is  the  harbor,  and  beyond  it  Federal  Hill,  while  far  in  the  distance, 
but  nearly  in  the  same  direction,  stretches  the  beautiful  arm  of  the  bay,  on 
which  Baltimore  stands.  To  the  east  and  south,  across  Jones'  Fall,  lie  tho 
Old  Town  and  Fell's  Point,  and  to  the  west  the  newer  portions,  which  are  ex- 
tending rapidly.  The  view  is  varied  by  the  domes  of  the  Catholic  cathedral, 
the  Unitarian  church  and  the  Exchange,  by  the  shot-tower,  the  Battle  Monu- 
ment, and  by  the  steeples  and  towers  of  the  various  churches  and  other  large 
edifices  (among  which  is  the  new  and  beautiful  steeple  of  the  Camden  Station, 
which  forms  a  conspicuous  finger-post  to  the  traveller)  scattered  in  all  direc- 
tions; the  whole  girt  on  the  north,  west,  and  east,  by  beautiful  hills  crowned 
with  a  natural  growth  of  trees." 

Dn  every  side  the  city  is  surrounded  by  a  country  of  great  natural 
beauty,  presenting  that  intermingling  of  land  and  water,  and  hill  and 
dale,  which  constitute  the  charm  of  landscape  scener3^  What  nature 
has  bountifully  granted  art  has  lavishly  improved.  The  splendid  coun- 
try-seats of  its  millionnaire  citizens  dot  the  hill-sides  and  beautify  the 
valleys  for  miles  around  its  suburbs,  pleasing  the  eye  and  gratifying 
the  refined  taste.  Prominent  among  these,  and  to  which  the  atten- 
tion of  every  appreciative  visitor  to  Baltimore  should  be  directed,  is 
"  The  Crimea,"  the  splendid  country-seat  of  Thomas  Winans,  whereon 
a  highly  cultivated  natural  taste,  a  large  European  experience,  and  abun- 
dant means,  have  reproduced  all  the  beauties  of  the  seignorial  manors 
of  the  feudal  estates  of  the  Old  World.  The  city  residence  and  grounds 
of  Mr.  Winans,  have  already  become  a  prominent  object  of  attractive 
interest  to  citizens  and  strangers,  but  this  recently  improved  and  still 
incomplete  country  place  promises  at  once  to  far  excel  any  similar 
estate  in  the  Union.  It  is  located  within  four  miles  of  the  city  and  is 
quite  elevated.  The  general  character  of  the  ground  is  wildly  pic- 
turesque in  the  extreme.  Its  strikingly  effective  mansion,  crowning 
the  highest  summit,  completelj-  overlooks  the  city  and  the  laeighboring 
country,  and  commands  an  admirable  view  of  the  Patapsco  River  and 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  at  its  mouth.  Bordered  by  its  more  than  two  miles 
of  Osage  orange  hedges — with  its  aboriginal  forests,  its  beautiful  running 
streams,  its  precipitous  rocky  hills,  its  lawns,  its  woodlands,  its  deer- 


SPLENDID  SUBURBAN  RETREATS EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.    147 

parks,  its  fish-ponds,  its  meandering  walks,  its  extensive  floral  and 
vegetable  gardens,  its  towering  windmill,  and  its  many  other  attrac- 
tive features — this  magnificent  place  must  become  the  boast  of  Mary- 
land, long  before  the  taste  and  means  of  its  owner  shall  have  been  ex- 
hausted in  its  perfection.  The  country  seats  of  John  S.  Hopkins,  Reverdy 
Johnson,  A.  S.  Abel,  G.  W.  Lurraan,  Zenus  Barnum,  D.  M.  Ferine,  and 
many  others,  each  in  different  styles  of  adornment  and  rural  elegance, 
prove  the  aesthetical  cultivation  and  worthily  bestowed  means  of  their 
owners.  From  the  surrounding  hills,  the  surface  of  Baltimore  un- 
dulates gently  down  to  its  beautiful  harbor,  which  in  turn  possesses 
some  remarkable  points  of  attraction.  Perfectly  land-locked,  the 
three  branches  of  the  Patapsco,  spreading  into  ample  sheets  of  water, 
ofifer  a  secure  harbor  for  the  commerce  of  the  city,  and  afford  to  its 
citizens  the  fairest  opportunity  for  the  enjoyment  of  those  aquatic 
sports  and  pleasures  that  furnish  the  best  relief  from  the  harassing 
toil.-;  and  close  confinement  of  city  life.  The  noble  Chesapeake  Bay, 
which  everj^  Baltimorean  considers  a  part  of  the  belongings  of  his  city, 
of  which  he  speaks  always  with  pride,  from  whose  nearness  he  gathers 
health  and  pleasure,  and  out  of  whose  waters  he  procures  the  choicest 
delicacies  that  make  enviable  Baltimore  fare,  is  last  but  not  least  of  the 
ensemble  of  natural  beauties  and  attractions  which  endear  the  city  to 
its  inhabitants,  and  offer  to  the  visitor  a  variety  of  sources  of  amuse- 
ment and  pleasure. 

The  public  institutions  of  Baltimore,  for  the  moral  and  intellectual 
advancement  of  her  people,  should  also  be  honorably  named  among 
the  attractions  of  the  IMonumental  City.  The  University  of  Mar}' land, 
the  patriarch  of  its  scientific  institutions,  and  the  venerated  Alma 
Mater  of  a  large  and  eminent  alumni,  was  incorporated  in  1812.  and  is 
one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  medical  colleges  in  the  country.  It 
has  a  faculty  of  arts  and  sciences,  of  physic,  of  theology,  and  of  law, 
and  is  well  supplied  with  the  materials  for  anatomical  and  clinical 
instruction.  Baltimore  College,  which  constitutes  the  collegiate  de- 
partment of  the  University,  is  under  the  ge!ieral  supervision  of  the 
regents — among  whom  is  John  11.  Alexander,  one  of  the  most  erudite 
scholars  in  the  country — with  a  separate  faculty  of  professors  and 
teachers.  The  Baltimore  Infirmary,  a  large  and  well  managed  insti- 
tution, is  also  connected  with  the  medical  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity. The  Maryland  Institute,  for  the  promotion  of  the  mechanic  and 
useful  arts,  though  a  young  institution,  has  achieved  the  mo?t  decided 
success.     It  occupies  a  field  of  widely  extended  usefulness,  and  through 


148  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

the  medium  of  its  numerously  attended  schools  of  design,  a  large  and 
constantly  augmenting  library,  its  lectures  of  a  literary,  scientific,  and 
chemical  character,  (the  latter  being  given  in  connection  with  a  very 
complete  philosophical  apparatus,)  and  its  annual  exhibitions  of  art 
and  industry  held  in  its  large  hall,  has  arrived  at  an  importance  which 
gives  to  it  the  highest  place  in  the  appreciation  of  the  community. 
The  projected  and  munificently  endowed  "  Peabody  Institute  "  will 
also  soon  be  added  to  the  list  of  public  institutions,  and  whilst  an 
ornament  to  the  city,  will  unquestionably  be  capable  of  much  useful 
effort  in  its  field  of  operation.  Did  our  limits  allow,  we  might  find 
something  worthy  of  mention  in  connection  with  various  other  edu- 
cational, scientific,  and  literary  organizations  of  the  city.  The  Mary- 
land Historical  Societj^,  the  Mercantile  Library  Association — one  of 
the  largest  and  best  conducted  of  its  class — the  Maryland  College  of 
Pharmacy,  the  Baltimore  College  of  Dental  Surgery,  and  Loyola  Col- 
lege, are  each  in  their  sphere  institutions  of  established  character  and 
usefulness.  The  public  school  system  of  Baltimore  is  also  one  of  its 
proudest  boasts.  It  embraces  seventy-nine  schools,  classed  as  pri- 
mary, grammar,  and  high  schools,  (of  which  latter  there  are  three,  one 
male  and  two  female,)  with  evening  schools,  and  a  "floating  school" 
for  amphibious  learners,  in  all  which,  during  the  year  1857,  eighteen 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirty-one  children  received  instruction. 
The  schools  are  nearly  all  conducted  in  buildings  owned  by  the  city, 
some  of  which  are  edifices  of  fine  appearance,  and  admirably  arranged 
for  school  purposes.  The  plan  of  instruction  pursued  is  well  digested, 
and  is  constantly  being  enlarged  and  improved,  and  the  whole  system 
is  carefully  promoted  and  liberally  supported  by  the  intelligent  good- 
will of  the  people.  In  addition  to  its  system  of  public  schools,  Balti- 
more is  distinguished  for  a  number  of  excellent  and  flourishing  private 
academies,  within  which  many  of  the  resident  youth,  and  large  num- 
bers of  scholars  drawn  from  the  rural  portions  of  the  surrounding 
States,  receive  their  education. 

The  moral,  charitable,  and  reformatory  institutions  of  Baltimore 
are  also  numerous  and  respectable.  The  Maryland  Hospital  for  the 
Insane,  now  located  on  the  eastern  suburb  of  the  city,  but  soon  to  be 
replaced  by  a  more  extensive  and  modern  edifice  in  another  location  ; 
the  Momit  Hope  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
city,  under  the  management  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity ;  the  new  and 
commodious  House  of  Refuge,  already  exerting  a  deep  and  beneficent 
influence";  the  Widows'  Home,  within  whose  beautiful  edifice  all  of 


THE    HISTORICAL    SURROUNDINGS    OF    BALTIMORE.  149 

Christian  care  and  kindness  are  expended  upon  its  inmates ;  the 
Union  Protestant  Infirmary,  into  which  sickness  and  suffering  are  the 
only  required  passports ;  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  Home, 
entering  upon  a  like  career  of  beneficent  charity,  in  a  large  and  ad- 
mirably arranged  edifice  crowning  the  summit  of  one  of  the  beautiful 
eminences  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city  ;  the  General  Association 
for  improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  which  relieved  the  wants  of 
10,000  persons  in  1857 ;  the  Baltimore  Protestant  Orphan  Asylum, 
gathering  three  hundred  orphans  under  its  sheltering  care  ;  St.  Mary's 
Catholic  Orphan  Asylum,  equally  extended  and  successful  in  its  pro- 
vision for  the  -unprotected  young,  and  many  other  institutions,  of  which 
these  named  are  only  the  most  prominent,  might  be  cited  as  among  the 
organizations  through  which  the  private  and  public  charity  of  Baltimore 
seeks  to  alleviate  the  suffering  and  promote  the  moral  and  religious 
well-being  of  the  needy  and  poor  within  her  gates. 

In  points  of  national  and  historical  interest,  Baltimore  is  not  defi- 
cient. The  proximitj'  of  Washington,  and  the  almost  hourly  facilities 
afforded  bj'  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  for  a  transit  from  one 
city  to  the  other,  has  rendered  the  National  Capital  almost  a  suburb 
of  Baltimore,  and  united  the  attractions  of  the  two  places.  Washing- 
ton, growing  with  the  rapid  increase  of  the  nation,  becoming  every  day 
a  capital  more  distinguished  for  its  magnificent  public  buildings,  its 
points  of  national  interest,  and  its  polished  and  courtly  society,  must 
continue  to  concentrate  upon  it  more  and  more  largely  the  attention 
of  the  people  of  the  country,  and  nourish  that  increasing  taste  which 
makes  a  visit  to  it  one  of  the  necessities  of  a  home  tour,  omitting  which 
no  traveller  will  be  considered  to  have  "  seen  all  that  was  worth  seeing." 

Nearer  yet  to  her  limits  Baltimore  claims  among  her  historic  lions 
Fort  McHenry,  against  whose  stout  embankments  and  well-served 
batteries  the  British  fleet  in  1814  in  vain  discharged  its  thunders,  and 
amidst  the  roar  and  glare  of  whose  gallant  defence  the  most  popular 
of  our  national  anthems — the  Star  Spangled  Banner — was  improvised 
by  the  patriotic  Key.  From  the  eminence  of  Fort  McIIeury,  across 
the  waters  of  the  Patapsco,  lies,  almost  within  sight,  the  Battle  Field 
of  North  Point — but  eight  miles  from  the  city — whereon  the  gallantry 
of  Baltimore  volunteers,  aided  by  the  ready  assistance  of  the  militia 
of  Washington  City,  and  the  borough  of  York,  in  Pennsylvania,  won 
honor  and  victory  from  a  British  invading  force,  and  saved  their  city 
from  the  barbarian  pillage  and  destruction  which  the  same  troops  had 
but  recently   inflicted  upon    Washington.      Annapolis — but    thirty 


150  EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    BAST. 

miles  from  Baltimore,  on  an  arm  of  the  bay — the  "  ancient  city"  of 
happy  memories,  has  also  an  historic  interest.  Annapolis  is  one  of 
the  few  cities  of  the  United  States  that  counts  its  age  by  centuries. 
It  was  founded  in  1649,  and  yet  presents  in  its  aspect  many  of  the 
peculiarities  of  the  early  colonial  times.  Its  venerable  State  House, 
within  whose  Senate  Chamber  Washington  surrendered  his  commis- 
sion as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army,  yet  stands  untouched  by 
time,  and  almost  unassailed  by  improvement,  one  of  the  Meccas  of  the 
country,  upon  which  the  patriotic  veneration  of  its  sons  will  ever 
descend.  Of  the  more  modern  attractions  of  Annapolis,  the  principal 
is  the  United  States  Naval  Academy,  the  counterpart  of  West  Point, 
and  performing  for  the  Navy  what  the  latter  institution  does  for  the 
Army,  the  raising  up  of  successive  corps  of  well  educated,  thoroughly 
disciplined,  and  scientifically  efficient  naval  officers. 

The  commercial,  trading,  and  manufacturing  facilities  of  Baltimore 
must,  however,  be  relied  on  as  the  principal  attractive  power  that  will 
bring  to  her  the  trade  and  travel  of  other  sections  of  the  country.  In 
drawing  toward  her  this  necessary  papulum  of  a  metropolitan  city, 
Baltimore  has  already  been  greatly  successful,  and  the  future  holds 
out  the  most  solid  promises  of  further  and  more  important  achieve- 
ment. Her  position  at  the  head  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  is  one  of 
superior  advantage  for  foreign  commerce,  whilst  the  numerous  lines  of 
railwa}',  radiating  East  and  West,  North  and  South,  built  mainly  by 
her  capital  and  controlled  by  her  energy  and  enterprise,  and  having 
their  termini  within  her  borders,  invite  to  the  city  the  agricultural 
and  mineral  wealth  of  a  vast  interior.  In  the  eloquent  language  of  one 
of  her  citizens,  she  may  justly  claim  to  have  "  reached  the  threshold 
and  stepping-stone  of  her  true  commercial  greatness,  and  there  is 
nothing  now  that  can  turn  her  back."  Beside  her  large  commerce 
carried  on  in  sailing  vessels  with  coastwise  and  foreign  ports,  Balti- 
more has  regular  steamship  communication  with  Boston,  New  York 
Philadelphia,  Charleston,  and  Norfolk ;  whilst  her  fleet  of  steamboats 
keep  up  close  connections  with  all  the  country  bordering  on  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay  and  its  tributaries.  The  foreign  trade  of  the  city  even 
under  the  commercial  depression  of  1857,  showed  an  aggregate  value 
of  inward  and  outward  cargoes  of  nearly  twenty-four  millions  of  dollars. 
The  arrivals  at  the  port,  exclusive  of  bay  craft,  in  the  yenv  ending 
Dec.  31,  1857,  included  280  ships,  181  barks,  323  brigs,  and  1,903 
schooners :  total  3,093.  Of  these  73  ships,  96  barks.  224  brigs,  and 
182  schooners,  were  from  foreign  ports.     The  number  of  clearances 


THE  COMMERCE  AND  TRADE  OF  BALTIMORE.        151 

duriii2;  the  same  yetir  was  3,732  ;  of  which  521  were  for  foreip;n  ports. 
During-  the  j-ear  51  vessels,  of  12,059  tons  burthen,  were  built  at  the 
port.  Of  the  general  trade  of  the  city,  there  is,  perhaps,  the  most 
comprehensive  view  presented  in  the  following  extract  from  the  last 
annual  statement  of  the  Baltimore  American,  a  recognized  authority 
upon  all  matters  relative  to  the  commerce  of  the  city  : 

"  For  the  first  time,  we  believe,  since  Baltimore  has  attained  any  commer- 
cial importance,  we  have  ventured  to  estimate  tlie  value  of  its  business  in  actual 
figures.  In  doing  so,  we  have  chosen  mostly  to  under-estiniate  rather  than  to 
set  down  values  at  ha/.ard.  This  will  be  seen  by  the  figures  themselves  in  the 
statements  which  follow;  and  in  oi'der  to  approximate  to  soni  ithiug  like  the 
value  of  merchandise  which  constitutes  the  trade  of  our  city,  we  prefix  the 
following  summary : 

VALUE   OF   ARTICLES. 

Dry  Goods 830, 000,000| Live  Stock 8^,100,000 


Provisions 8,000,000 

Sugar 5,000,000 

Salt 100,000 

Molasses 1,000,000 

Tobacco 4,250,000 

Whiskey 2,500,000 

Lumber 1,000,000 

Wool 400,000 


Total 084,760,000 


Coal 3,600,000 

Coffee 3,500,000 

Cotton 2,100,000 

Fish 400,000 

Flour 5,500,000 

Grain 6,000,000 

Guano 1,600,100 

Pig  and  Bar  Iron 2,000,000 

Copper 2,000,000 

Seri l'«^0,000 

"  The  gross  value  of  the  articles  above  enumerated  is  set  down  in  round 
numbers  at  eighty-five  millions  of  dollars. — The  enumeration,  however,  com- 
prises only  the  largest  items  of  men-handise,  and  is  far  from  including  every 
thing. — We  may  observe  that  there  is  no  estimate  of  man^'  articles  of  great 
value,  such  as  Brandy,  Gin,  Wines,  Dried  Fruits,  Hardware,  Cutlery,  Gold 
and  Silver  Ware,  Watches,  Jewelry,  Cigars,  Stationery,  Taints,  Oils,  Naval 
Stores,  Malt  Liquors,  Staves,  Bricks,  Lime,  Artificial  Fertilisers,  Drugs,  Oils, 
Candles,  Soaps,  &c.,  &c.  Nor  do  we  include  Ship  Building,  Steam  Engines, 
Locomotives,  llailroad  Machinery,  Agricultural  Implements,  Crockery  and 
Glassware,  which  form  a  large  agi^regate. 

"  We  re"-ret  niuch  that  there  is  no  data  on  which  we  could  found  an  esti- 
mate of  the  value  of  the  traile  in  Oysters,  prepared  for  exportation,  of  which  im- 
mense quantities  are  sent  to  the  Western  States  and  to  foreign  countries  from 
this  port  exclusively,  which  we  are  confident  may  be  set  down  at  one  million  of 
dollars,  and  might  probaljly  be  much  more. 

"As  the  principal  articles  of  merchandise  enumerated  above,  to  which  we 
are  enabled  to  alHx  the  actual  value  (liecausc  they  mostly  pass  under  the  olH- 
cial  surveillance  of  the  ("u-stoin- House  or  of  authorized  inspectors i,  amount  in 
gross  to  eii<hty-five  millions  of  dollars,  we  think  it  quite  safe  to  estimate  the 
value  of  the  merchandise  and  produce  generally,  last  enumerated,  about  half 
that  of  the  former.  This  would  make  the  general  trade  of  the  city,  in  round 
numbers,  fully  one  hundred  and  tweuty-eight  millions  of  dollars." 


152         EXCURSION    OF    WESTERN    AUTHORITIES    TO    THE    EAST. 

The  many  and  various  facilities  which  Baltimore  possesses  as  a 
manufacturing  city,  have  gradually  been  brought  into  requisition  until, 
in  this  point  of  progress,  it  is  rapidly  taking  range  with  the  most  ad- 
vanced of  its  rivals.  The  Patapsco  river  and  Jones',  and  Gwyn's 
Falls,  afford  an  immense  water  power,  extensively  employed  for  llour- 
ing  mills,  of  which  there  are  about  seventy  within  twenty  miles  of 
the  city,  with  also  a  very  large  number  of  cotton  and  woollen  mills, 
iron  works,  tan  yards,  and  other  important  branches  of  productive 
industry.  The  cheapness  of  the  Cumberland  semi-bituminous  coal, 
its  constant  supply  through  the  medium  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
railroad,  and  its  superior  adaptabilities  for  steam  generating  purposes, 
has  also  an  important  influence  in  developing  within  her  limits  a  great 
variety  of  manufacturing  interests.  From  an  elevated  point  of  exa- 
mination, the  city  will  be  perceived  to  be  surrounded  on  almost  every 
side  by  lines  of  factories,  mills,  and  manufacturing  establishments, 
whose  columns  of  dark  smoke  and  jets  of  steam,  demonstrate  the  con- 
stant activity  and  innumerable  variety  of  her  productive  interests. 
These  establishments  embrace  the  manufacture  of  cloth,  cotton,  and 
woollen  goods  ;  paper  mills,  copper,  glass,  chemical  and  tobacco  works  ; 
the  iron  trade  in  all  its  branches  of  melting,  puddling,  rolling,  forging 
and  final  product  in  the  thousand  of  purposes  of  use  and  ornament  to 
which  the  science  of  the  age  has  made  the  metal  applicable ;  steam 
engine  and  locomotive  founderies,  nail  mills,  hollow  ware  and  stove 
factories ;  whilst  in  other  departments  of  labor  may  be  enumerated 
piano,  cabinet  ware,  chair  and  wall-paper  manufactories ;  cedar  ware 
factories ;  steam,  stone,  and  wood  sawmills,  and  a  list  that  might  be 
almost  indefinitely  extended  of  the  numerous  products  for  which  the 
augmenting  trade  of  the  city  has  created  a  demand.  In  all  these  de- 
paitments  of  labor,  Baltimore  has  achieved  some  special  excellence 
which  has  given  to  her  manufactures  a  high  rank.  The  product  of  her 
flour  mills  is  valued  for  family  use  and  export  to  South  America  and 
the  West  Indies;  the  achievements  of  her  steam  engine  and  locomo- 
tive builders  have  been  attested  by  many  triumphs  of  mechanical  skill ; 
her  ship-builders  have  a  national  fame ;  her  iron  workers  have  success- 
fully filled  large  and  important  government  contracts,  and  in  this  way 
might  be  enumerated  in  all  her  branches  of  industrial  enterprise  the 
evidences  of  an  ability  to  fulfil  the  largest  demand  that  her  commer- 
cial and  trading  progress  may  originate.  From  the  best  data  at  com- 
mand, the  manufacturing  establishments  of  Baltimore  are  estimated  to 
number  about  four  thousand,  in  which  is  invested  a  capital  of  from 


THE    GENERAL    BUSINESS    ADVANTAGES    OF    BALTIMORE.  153 

twelve  to  fifteen  millions  of  dollars,  consuming  annually  raw  material 
to  the  aggregate  value  of  eighteen  millions  of  dollars,  and  producing 
annually  manufectured  articles  of  the  value  of  from  thirty -five  to  forty 
millions  of  dollars. 

With  these  favorable  influences,  and  the  important  bases  of  a  pre- 
feiTed  geographical  location,  of  completed  lines  of  railway  connecting 
directly  with  all  sections  of  the  country,  with  a  large  foreign  and 
domestic  trade,  and  a  growing  system  of  manufactures;  Baltimore, 
through  the  social  courtesies  we  have  detailed,  has  sought  to  present 
her  claims,  extend  her  influence,  and  strengthen  the  ties  which  unite 
her  interests  with  the  vast  interior  country  upon  which  all  the  Atlan- 
tic cities  depend  for  prosperity  and  increase. 


THE 

KAILWAY    CELEBKATIONS   OF  1857. 
APPENDIX. 


CONTENTS. 

I. — Presentation  by  Cincinnati  Guests. 

II. — Opening  of  the  Railroad  to  Washingto.m,  in  1835. 
III. — Opening  of  the  Winchester  and  Potomac  Road,  in  1836. 
IV. — Resignation  of  Philip  E.  Thomas,  in  1836. 

V. — Hon.  Reverdt  Johnson,  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 
VI. — Wintee  Scenes  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 
VII. — Harpers'  Magazine  and  Brantz  Mater. 
VIII. — Presidential  Inauguration — Extraordinary  Travel. 
IX. — The  present  extent  of  the  Railroad  System. 

X. — The  Value  and  Importance  of  Railroads. 


APPENDIX. 


A  VALUABLE  PRESENTATION  BY  THE  CINCINNATI  EXCURSIONISTS. 

A  FEW  weeks  after  the  returu  of  tlie  Cincinnati  visitors,  they  revived  their 
association  with  the  July  excursion,  by  presenting  a  testimonial  to  Mr.  J.  M. 
Sharp,  the  General  Western  Passenger  Agent  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad.  Of  this  pleasant  afi'air  the  Cincinnati  Daily  Times,  and  other  jour- 
nals, give  the  following  full  account : — 

closing  ceremony  of  the  late  excitrsion. 
Testimonial  from  the  Cincinnati  Excursionists  to  Mr.  John  M.  Sharp. 

On  Saturday  evening  last,  a  party  of  the  late  excursionists  to  Baltimore  and 
vicinity,  visited  the  residence  of  Mr.  John  M.  Sharp,  Western  Agent  for  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  for  the  purpose  of  bestowing  upon  him  a  testimo- 
nial, that  had  been  prepared  hj  order  of  the  Cincinnatians,  who  participated  in 
that  great  excursion.  They  arrived  at  Mr.  Sharp's  residence,  located  near  Cum- 
minsville,  one  of  the  suburbs,  about  nine  o'clock,  and  were  warmly  received  by 
Mr.  Sharp  and  his  estimable  lady. 

At  the  proper  season.  Judge  A.  J.  Pruden  stepped  forward,  with  the  testimo- 
nial in  his  hand.  It  is  a  gorgeous  gold  watch,  with  suitable  trimmings,  and 
has  the  following  words  engraved  upon  the  case : 

"  Tlie  Cincinnati  Excursionists,  qf\Uh  July,  to  John  M.  Sharp.     Presented 
October  3, 1857." 

Judge  Pruden  presented  the  testimonial  in  a  brief  and  pertinent  address. 
Approaching  Mr.  Sharp,  with  the  gift  ui  his  hand,  he  remarked  as  follows,  viz. : 

Sir: — I  am  delegated,  on  behalf  of  the  excursionists  who  left  the  city  of  Cin- 
cinnati for  Baltimore  on  the  sixteenth  of  last  July,  to  ])reseiit  to  yo\i  this  beauti- 
ful watch  and  chain,  as  a  slight  token  of  the  hii;h  lojiard  wo  entortaiii  t'ur  you, 
as  a  gentleman,  and  as  an  eflicient  oflicer  of  the  lialtinioie  and  Ohio  FJailnnid 
Company ;  and  also  for  your  kindness,  courtesy,  and  attention  to  our  comfort, 
whilst  on  our  recent  excursion. 


158     APPENDIX    TO    THE    "  RAILWAY    CELEBKATIONS    OF    1857." 

This  is  not  presented  for  its  intrinsic  value  alone,  but  as  a  token  of  friendship 
and  esteem.  Coming  from  friends  who  know  and  can  appreciate  your  merits, 
we  present  it  as  something  substantial  and  endurable,  which  being  worn  upon 
your  person,  will  cause  you  to  have  recurrence  to  its  dial,  when  there  may  be 
brought  to  your  recollection  our  delightful  excursion,  with  the  many  pleasant 
incidents,  receptions,  and  smiling  faces  we  met  upon  that  happy  occasion.  We 
wish  you  to  wear  it  until  time  shall  cease  to  be  with  you,  and  when  you  shall 
have  gone  to  that  bourne  from  "  whence  no  traveller  returns,"  we  hope  that 
our  token  of  esteem  may  descend  as  an  Heir-loom  to  your  children. 

And  permit  me  upon  this  occasion,  on  behalf  of  the  excursionists,  through 
you,  to  return  to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  as  well  as  all  the 
other  Roads,  and  the  several  steamboat  corporations,  that  so  generously  extend- 
ed to  us  the  courtesy  of  their  lines,  our  thanks  for  their  liberality,  courtesy  and 
attention. 

I  wish  also,  in  conclusion,  to  say  that  we  look  upon  the  opening  of  these 
great  Railroad  lines  from  the  east  to  the  great  West,  as  an  epoch  in  tne  history 
of  our  country, — as  a  harbinger  of  peace,  wealth,  and  happiness, — and  as 
strengthening  the  common  ties  of  our  common  country.  As  these  great  channels 
of  commerce  are  opened,  and  our  people  visit  and  intermingle  one  with  another, 
their  ties  of  friendship  will  be  strengthened  more  and  more,  and  we  will  in  truth 
and  in  fact  be  a  national  and  not  a  sectional  people. 

To  the  above  earnest  remarks,  Mr.  Sharp  made  the  following  response,  viz  : 

Gentlemen  op  the  Committee  and  Friends^ 

Never  before  have  I  so  keenly  felt  the  poverty  of  language,  as  now,  that  I 
.attempt  to  respond  to  the  kind  words  you  have  just  addressed  me,  and  to  thank 
you  and  those  you  represent  for  this  munificent  testimonial. 

An  an  Ohioan,  identified  with  your  proud  city,  this  elegant  gift,  coming  from 
those  of  my  fellow-citizens  who  know  me  best,  tills  my  heart  with  gladness.  To 
be  thus  assured  that  I  have  been  appreciated  far  beyond  my  merits,  and  as  the 
humble  agent  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  but  discharging  my 
duty,  as  assigned  by  them,  that  your  approbation  should  be  so  unmistakably 
expressed,  gives  me  just  cause  for  pride,  and  adds  incentive  to  bring  to  the  dis- 
charge of  my  duties  all  that  zeal  for  the  interest  of  the  road  I  represent,  and  to 
create  and  sustain  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  the  great  West  an  interest  in,  and 
a  favoritism  for,  that  road,  so  far  as  it  may,  by  its  policy  and  advantage,  be 
worthy  of  their  support. 

Without  obtruding  on  your  patience,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place,  at  this  time, 
to  briefly  revert  to  the  history  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  which,  con- 
sidered ni  all  its  bearings,  from  the  inception  of  that  enterprise  to  its  completion 
— for  the  difficulties  encountered  and  overcome — its  immense  cost  and  steady 
progress,  until  the  fullest  success  named  its  projectors  as  men  of  no  common 
stamp,  in  fact,  men  of  prophetic  genius.  It  is,  indfid,  witliout  parallel  in  its  bold- 
ness of  inception,  determination  of  progress  and  triuinpliant  results. 

As  early  as  1827,  hcfore  a  single  Railroad  for  the  conveyance  of  freight  or  pas- 
sengers had  been  constructed  in  this  or  any  other  country,  when  thie  value  of 
Watt's  and  Fulton's  legacy  was  hardly  appreciated,  a  few  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Baltimore  felt  the  necessity  of  providing  some  certain,  cheap,  and  rapid  means 
of  connecting  the  Monumental  City,  on  the  noble  Chesapeake,  with  the  beautiful 
river  which  laves  the  feet  of  your  majestic  Queen  of  cities.  The  granaries  of 
the  W^est,  her  fertile  fields  and  teeming  valleys,  were  building  up  a  wealth  that 
only  required  an  accessible  market  and  a  port,  to  realize  the  fullest  wish  of  the 
husbandman  and  the  artisan.  No  point  on  the  continent,  so  near  in  miles,  so 
perfect  in  all  its  requirements,  was  presented  as  that  of  Baltimore ;  and  although 
the  cloud-capped  AUeghanies,  and  the  rugged  Blue  Ridge  presented  their  obsti- 
nate barriers,  still  the  enterprise  of  man,  with  the  aid  of  wealth,  scientifically 
directed,  overcame  all  obstacles,  and  erected  a  monument  of  skill  such  as  the 
world  had  never  before  beheld. 

During  the  year  1827,  through  the  eiibrts  of  some  leading  citizens  of  Balti- 


A    PRESENTATION    BY    THE    CINCINNATI    EXCURSIONISTS,         159 

more,  the  LeEisIature  of  5[aryland  granted  an  act  of  Incorporation  to  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Hailioad  t'onipany.  Tills  act  in  the  following  year  was  contiini- 
ed  by  the  Legislatures  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania.  The  organization  of  the 
company  was  ellected  in  xVpril,  1sli7,  and  the  construction  of  the  road — the  vene- 
rable Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrolton,  the  last  surviving  signer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  laying  the  corner  stone — was  commenced  on  the  Fourth  of  ,My 
1S28.  The  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  first  fixed  at  §5,000,000,  with  the 
privilege  of  increasing  the  amount  if  necessary,  requiring  the  subscription  of 
^1,000,000  before  organization.  This  being  eti'ected,  it  may  be  said  the  enter- 
prise was  fully  under  way ;  but  the  almost  insurmountable  ditliculties  which 
met  them  at  every  step,  tlae  obstacles  interposed  by  adverse  parties,  and  the 
heavy  increase  of  cost  over  the  estimates,  would  have  appalled  men  of  less  nerve 
than  those  who  had  undertaken  this  majestic  work.  Not  only  were  the  barriers 
interposed  by  nature  to  be  overcome,  and  the  most  trying  difficulties  of  a  financial 
character  to  be  surmounted,  but  the  perverse  jealousy  of  the  Chesapeake  and 
Ohio  Canal  Company  interposed  with  a  determination  to  cripple  and  to  foil  the 
Railroad  Company  in  every  step  they  proposed  to  advance.  And  thus  it  was, 
gentlemen,  by  efibrts  almost  superhuman,  the  brave  people  of  Maryland,  and 
especially  the  enterprising  men  of  Baltimore,  with  Spartan  courage,  advanced 
mile  by  mile,  with  a  determined  perseverance,  which  would  admit  of  no  defeat, 
scarce  of  delay,  fought  their  way  through  the  valleys  of  Maryland,  tore  asunder 
the  rocky  bari-iers,  mounted  the  Blue  Kidge,  stretched  across  the  plains  of  Vir- 
ginia, ascended  and  pierced  the  frowning  Alleghanies,  until,  when  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century  had  elapsed,  the  glad  waters  of  the  Ohio  weie  tapped,  and 
now  your  queenly  city,  in  point  of  time,  lies  just  ii])on  the  seaboard. 

How  grand  the  result !  A  Western  world  with  its  wealth  untold,  scorning  the 
impediments  imposed  by  nature,  upoi>  its  iron-girded  channel  whirls  the  cars  of 
commerce,  annihilates  time  and  space,  and  lays  its  treasures  at  the  gates  of  old 
ocean.  A  people  before  separated  by  weeks  of  toiling  travel  shake  hands  of 
greeting  every  day,  and  in  the  marts  of  commerce  and  trade,  and  in  the  Banquet 
Hall  cement  ties  of  interest  and  friendship  that  nothing  short  of  the  "  terror-king" 
can  separate.  The  East,  the  "West,  the  Nortli,  the  South,  thus  become  one 
neighborhood,  strangers  have  become  friends,  and  friendship  ripens  into  brother- 
hood. 

It  is  peculiarly  pleasing  to  me,  that  I  this  night  meet  a  portion  of  those  citi- 
zens at  Cincinnati,  who  have  lately  had  the  opportunity,  through  the  facilities 
ofiered  by  the  road  I  represent,  to  visit  their  honjes,  the  people  who  have  pro- 
jected aiid  executed  the  great  work  of  uniting  the  East  with  the  West.  Then  it 
was  most  unmistakably  exhibited  that  a  fraternal  feeling  of  brotherhood  anima- 
ted the  liearts  of  our  people ;  that  it  was  only  necessary  to  meet  each  other  at 
whatever  point  on  our  common  country's  soil,  when  like  children  of  one  father, 
having  but  one  hope,  and  one  aim,  and  that  for  our  common  country's  weal, 
thev  mingled  in  the  bonds  of  friendship  and  of  love.  And  aside  from  this,  how 
plainly  was  shown  that  the  bond  of  interest  so  closely  united  each  other  that  to 
sever  it  would  be  but  a  suicidal  act. 

An  examination  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  from  its  eastern  terminus, 
tapping  the  noble  Chesapeake,  where  the  navies  of  the  world  may  ride  in  safety, 
spreading  its  strong  arms  until  bv  two  distinct  approaches  it  cleaves  our  State, 
and  then  uniting  at  your  city,  "must  certainly  present  inducements  unequalled 
for  transportation  between  the  Ohio  valley  and  a  seaboard  outlet.  The  Central 
Ohio  and  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroads,  passing  as  they  do  by  their 
direct  lines  through  the  most  densely  populated  regions  of  the  West,  and  uniting 
with  the  great  artery  at  Wheeling  and  Parkersburg  on  the  East,  need  only  to  be 
known  to  divert  to  their  lines  all  that  travel  and  transport  which  seeks  a  safe, 
prompt,  and  speedy  route. 

If  we  consider  railroads  in  a  business  point  of  view,  as  adding  to  the  facilities 
of  commerce  of  evorv  character,  or  in  a  political  or  social  aspect,  we  must  be  as- 
tonished at  the  results  that  follow  them.  The  conflicting  interests  of  latitude  are 
dispelled,  the  fluctuations  of  trade  are  controlled,  the  wealth  of  distant  and  hereto- 
fore inaccessible  regions  is  developed,  and  a  centralizing  community  of  iuteresta 


160     APPENDIX    TO    THE    "  RAILWAY    CELEBRATIONS    OF    1857." 

established.  Within  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  the  iron  net-work  inaugurated 
by  the  city  of  Baltimore  had  spread,  until  the  dark  waters  of  the  Atlantic  and 
the  turbid  Mississippi  are  closely  united ;  and  the  time  is  near  at  hand  when 
our  brothers  upon  the  Pacific  will  meet  us  in  the  valley  of  the  "  Father  of 
Waters." 

A  generous  rivalry  will  and  should  exist  as  to  which  portion  of  our  country 
shall  present  the  greatest  inducements  for  the  grand  trunk  thoroughfare,  and 
this  question  will  be  settled  by  certain  and  fixed  laws.  Where  the  fewest  obsta- 
cles are  presented,  and  the  least  delay  required,  there  will  the  great  bulk  of  travel 
seek  a  channel.  Cincinnati,  by  her  lines  of  railroad,  now  completed  and  in  pro- 
gress, holds  a  position  unequalled,  to  make  her  the  centre  of  the  great  through 
line.  It  will  only  be  necessary  by  a  liberal  policy  to  unite,  without  break  of  rail, 
her  Eastern  and  Western  arms,  to  enable  her  to  compete  with  those  lines  North 
and  South  of  her,  making  no  dela}-  or  extra  cost  in  the  handling  of  freights  at  this 
point,  when  with  her  other  pre-eminent  advantages  she  will  firmly  retam  her  posi- 
tion as  the  Queen  of  Western  cities,  bidding  all  others  God  speed,  but  fearing 
no  rival  to  her  growing  greatness.  During  the  late  excursion,  you  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  observing  the  peculiar  advantages  presented  to  Baltimore  by  a  continu- 
ous line  of  rail  through  her  principal  streets,  and  I  am  satisfied  that  there  is  not 
one  of  you,  who  took  time  to  inquire  into  the  merits  of  its  utility,  but  that  be- 
came fully  convinced  of  the  great  importance  of  a  similar  arrangement  in  our 
city  between  the  great  Ohio  and  Mississippi  and  the  Little  Miami  Railroads.  You 
have  seen  the  great  .advantage  it  gives  Baltimore  as  the  seaboard  port  for  the 
great  West.  Her  position  is  unequalled  and  her  advantages  great.  Her  mer- 
chants are  liberal,  and  their  enterprise  will  compare  with  those  of  any  other 
Eastern  city  ;  beside,  the  great  road  they  have  constructed  to  our  State  border, 
and  her  aid  to  the  two  branches  which  span  our  State,  and  terminating  at  this 
point  at  an  immense  cost  of  treasure,  are  considerations  well  worthy  your 
attention. 

In  conclusion,  permit  me  again  to  thank  you  for  this  mark  of  your  esteem 
and  friendship.  It  will  be  treasured  in  kind  recollection  of  the  past,  and  as  an 
heir-loom,  become  more  valuable  as  years  shall  pass  away. 

After  this,  the  company  sat  down  to  a  feast  prepared  for  them,  and  spent  an 
hour  or  two  in  the  happiest  conviviality.  Many  pleasant  incidents  of  the  excur- 
sion were  recalled,  and  those  who  were  so  beneficent  in  their  hospitality  on  that 
occasion  were  remembered  and  especially  mentioned  with  due  praise. 


II 


OPENING  OF  THE  RAILROAD  TO  WASHINGTON,  1885.— A  PROPHECY. 

Upon  the  opening  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Company's  Branch  Rail- 
road to  the  city  of  Washington,  in  the  month  of  August,  1835,  the  Presi- 
dent and  Directors  of  the  Road,  with  a  very  numerous  company  of  invited 
guests  from  Baltimore  were,  on  their  arrival,  met  by  the  Mayor  and  City 
Council  of  Washington,  and  a  large  collection  of  citizens,  among  whom  was 
General  Andrew  Jackson,  then  President  of  the  United  States,  and  other  gov- 
ernment fimctionaries.  T liey  were  cordially  welcomed  by  the  Mayor  in  an 
eloquent  address,  in  which  he  expressed  the  high  gratification  which  the  open- 
ing of  the  Road  afforded    the  people  of  \\a3hiMgton,  and  the   mutual  advan- 


PROPHETIC    SPEECH    BY    PHILIP    E.    THOMAS.  161 

tages  it  would  confer  upon  both  cities.  To  tliis  address  the  following  interesting 
reply  was  made  by  Mr.  Thomas,  the  originator  and  first  President  of  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad,  who  said  : 

"  It  is  with  feelings  of  great  pleasure  that  I  receive,  on  the  part  of  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Raihi)ad  Compan}-,  the  congratulations  which,  as  the  represen- 
tative of  the  corporate  authorities  of  the  city  of  Washington,  you  have  been 
pleased  to  ofl'er  on  this  occasion,  and  I  avail  myfclf  of  the  opportunity  to  reci- 
procate the  kind  wishes  and  sentiments  you  have  expressed,  and  to  tender  you 
the  thanks  of  the  company  for  the  facilities  aflbrded  by  the  corporation,  in  the 
location  and  construction  of  the  Road  within  its  limits. 

The  Board  of  Directors  fully  concur  in  your  estimates  of  the  advantages  of 
that  system  of  internal  comnmnication,  of  which  the  Railroad  between  the  cities 
of  Washington  and  Baltimore  is  so  important  a  link;  and  they  look  to  its  ex- 
tension throughout  our  whole  countrj-,  as  affording  the  best  guarantee  for  the 
perpetuity  of  our  National  Union.  Even  to  the  casual  observer  of  the  map  of  the 
vast  Empire,  into  which  the  thirteen  original  States  have  expanded,  under  the 
beneficent  influence  of  our  free  institutions,  the  national  advantages  of  Maryland 
upon  whose  soil  tvenoiv  stand  must  be  apparent,  and  having  bQen  once  included 
in  the  limits  of  this  State,  the  city  of  Washington  must  feel  an  interest  in  what- 
ever afJects  its  happiness  and  prosperity.  It  is  in  Maryland  that  the  Atlantic, 
rolling  far  up  the  magnificent  estuary  of  the  Chesapeake,  brings  its  waters  into 
closer  proximity  to  the  streams  that  flow  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

To  complete  the  great  plan  of  intercommunication  which  nature  had  already 
thus  far  effected,  was  the  object  of  the  people  of  Baltimore,  when  the  company  I 
now  have  the  honor  to  represent  first  went  into  operation.  The  enterprise  was 
novel  in  its  kind,  and  the  knowledge  essential  to  its  success  could  only  be  ob- 
tained by  costly  and  patient  experience.  The  natural  obstacles  that  existed 
were,  however,  less  discouraging  than  the  doubts  and  gloomy  forebodings  of 
some  of  the  best  friends  of  the  scheme.  All  doubts  and  obstacles  have  been 
surmounted,  and  the  practicability  of  the  undertaking  has  been  demonstrated. 
Of  the  force  of  the  difficulties  here  alluded  to,  none  can  better  judge  than  the 
people  of  Washington,  who  have  so  zealousl_v,  and  under  such  adverse  circum- 
stances, prosecuted  their  great  work,  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal.  Hitherto 
however,  the  city  of  Baltimore  has  mainly  relied  on  its  own  resources,  but  now 
the  work,  the  completion  of  which  we  meet  this  day  to  celebrate,  and  in  which 
we  all  have  a  common  interest,  brings  to  its  aid  a  most  powerful  and  efficient 
coadjutor.  It  unites  in  the  bonds  of  mutual  interest  two  large  communities, 
aiming  at  the  same  point,  and  which  have  both  succeeded  in  completing  portions 
of  the  great  highway  of  Western  intercourse.  Competitors,  without  being  op- 
ponents, is  the  feeling  that  should  hereafter  exist  between  them  in  their  labors, 
either  by  Canal  or  Railroad,  to  eliect  that  communication  with  the  West,  which 
they  simultaneously  commenced.  In  the  mean  time,  brought  as  it  were  almost 
within  speaking  distance  of  each  other,  permit  me  fo  express  the  hope,  that  with 
all  the  kindly  feelings  and  courtesies  of  life  extended  and  fostered,  the  citizens  of 
Washington  and  Baltimore  may  continue  severally  to  pursue  the  great  works 
which  they  have  so  energetically  promoted. 


162  APPENDIX  TO  THE  "  RAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF  1957." 

You  have  alluded  to  the  change  that  is  now  wrought  in  the  travel  between  our 
respective  cities,  »ince  the  time  when  tlie  sun  both  rose  and  set  on  the  tvai/farer,  as 
he  toiled  on  thejortrney  between  them.  I  tntst  the  traveller  to  the  West,  icho  on  his 
departure  sees  that  luminary  emerge  from  the  bosom  of  the  Atlantic,  may  be  en- 
abl-ed  to  follow  in  its  course,  so  that  on  the  same  day  he  will  witness  its  descent 
beneath  the  broad  horizon  that  circumscribes  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  ! 

The  last  paragraph  of  Mr.  Thomas's  efiFective  and  eloquent  address  seems 
almost  the  language  of  prophecy ;  for  the  hours  of  a  June  sunshine  are  now 
more  than  sufficient  to  take  the  traveller  at  regular  speed  over  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Road,  from  either  Washington  or  Baltimore  to  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio  River  at  Wheeling  or  Parkersburg. 


III. 

PHILIP   E.  THOMAS'S    SPEECH  AT  THE   OPENING   OF  THE  "WINCHESTER 
AND  POTOMAC  RAILROAD. 

This  line  of  road  was  one  of  the  first  to  be  built  as  a  connection  of  the  Bal- 
timore and  Ohio  Road.  Upon  its  completion,  early  in  1836,  the  President  and 
Directors  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  other  citizens  of  Baltimore, 
■were  invited  to  be  present  at  the  celebration  of  its  formal  opening  for  travel, 
and  the  transportation  of  produce  and  merchandise.  Upon  their  arrival  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  the  point  of  its  junction  with  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
— 81  miles  from  Baltimore — they  were  met  by  a  deputation  and  conducted  to 
Winchester — 32  miles  distant — where  they  were  received  by  the  President  and 
Directors  of  the  Railroad,  and  a  large  number  of  citizens. 

A  very  eloquent  and  appropriate  address  was  delivered  on  the  occasion,  by 
John  Bruce,  President  of  the  Winchester  and  Potomac  Railroad,  to  which  Mr. 
Thomas,  the  President  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  made  the  follow- 
ing reply : 

Permit  me  in  the  name  of  the  Company  which  I  have  the  honor  to  represent, 
to  thank  you  for  the  very  flattering  manner  in  which  you  have  been  pleased  to 
speak  of  its  exertions.  Remote  as  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  is  from  the 
points  of  its  ultimate  destination,  it  may  be  considered,  nevertheless,  to  have  ac- 
complished much,  in  advancing  its  steps,  so  far  as  to  form  the  connection  we 
this  day  meet  to  celebrate ;  and  whatever  may  hereafter  be  its  progress,  I  am 
certain  that  at  no  point  in  its  onward  course  can  those  intrusted  with  its  execu- 
tion find  a  warmer  or  more  gratifying  welcome  than  we  have  on  the  present  oc- 
casion experienced. 

In  the  connection  that  is  now  established  between  the  valley  of  the  Shenan- 


RESIGNATION    OF    PHILIP    E,    THOMAS.  163 

doah,  or  what  has  been  emphatically  called  "  The  Great  Virginia  Valley,"  and 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  interests  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland  will  be  materially  promoted. 

You  have  alluded  to  a  by-gone  day,  when  common  dangers  in  a  common 
cause,  united  these  States  in  the  closest  bonds  of  sympathy  and  afl'ection.  The 
feelings  which  that  memorable  epoch  elicited,  have  been  cherished  and  kept  in 
full  vigor  during  the  happy  and  peaceful  times  that  have  followed,  and  the 
colunni  which  has  won  for  the  chief  city  of  Maryland  the  epithet  of  "  Monumental 
City,''  is  a  tribute  to  a  son  of  Virginia,  universally  hailed  as  the  Father  of  his 
Country,  and  whose  fame  now  fills  the  world. 

Your  eloquent  exhortation  to  continue  our  efforts  until  the  work  we  have 
commenced  shall  be  accomplished,  will  not  be  disregarded.  The  country  is  now 
aware  of  the  importance  of  the  undertaking,  and  should  the  necessary  means  be 
obtained,  of  which  there  seems  but  little  doubt,  we  may,  in  a  few  years  from  this 
day,  call  upon  our  hospitable  hosts  to  join  us  in  a  trip  to  celebrate  the  connection 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  with  the  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi.  In 
return  may  we  not  with  equal  certainty  hope  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant 
when  we  shall  be  called  upon  to  join  in  proclaiming  on  the  summit  of  the  South- 
ern Alleghanies  the  completion  of  the  great  Kailroad,  which,  passing  through 
the  valley  of  Virginia,  is  destined  to  cement  in  one  common  interest  the  vast 
country  between  Portland  and  New  Orleans.  Then  will  our  most  sanguine  an- 
ticipations be  realized,  and  then  may  the  patriot,  in  the  full  exultation  of  his  feel- 
ings, exclaim,  "  The  Union  has  been  preserved !  " 

These  remarks  of  the  first  President  and  founder  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  are  revived  here,  to  show  the  directness  and  comprehensiveness  of 
that  officer,  to  whom  so  large  a  debt  of  public  gratitude  is  due  for  his  efforts 
in  originating  and  organizing  the  greatest  undertaking  of  the  day. 

With  the  same  view,  his  letter  resigning  the  Presidency  of  the  Company, 
on  the  7th  of  June,  1836,  after  his  arduous  and  successful  labors,  is  obtained 
from  the  reconls  of  the  company,  and  reprinted  in  our  volume. 

These  papers — like  the  memory  of  their  author — possess  an  increased  in- 
tarest  with  the  lapse  of  time  and  serve  admirably  to  show  the  spirit  by  which  he 
was  animated  in  his  connection  with  the  origin  and  development  of  the  great 
work  in  which  he  had  enlisted  his  wealth,  his  talents,  and  his  energies. 


IV. 

EESIGNATION    OF   PHILIP  E.  '1  IIOM.VS,  AS    PRESIDENT   OP   THE  BALTI- 
MOKE  AKD  OHIO  EAILROAD. 

Office  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  R.  R.  Co.,  June  7,  1836. 
To  the  Directors  of  the  lialtimore  mid  Ohio  liailroad  Company  : 

Gentlemen:  It  is  kuowu  to  you  that  the  duties  which  have  devolved  on  me 


164  APPENDIX  TO  THE  "  RAILWAY  CELEBRATTONS  OF  1857." 

as  President  of  this  Company  have  been  extremely  arduous,  and  that  for  several 
years  past  they  have  necessarily  so  wholly  occupied  my  time  that  I  have  scarce- 
ly had  any  opportunity  to  devote  the  least  attention  to  my  private  aftairs.  The 
circumstances  of  the  company  have,  however,  until  very  recently,  been  such,  in 
the  opinion  of  my  friends,  as  to  render  my  withdrawal  from  the  post  in  which 
your  confidence  and  kindness  had  placed  me,  incompatible  with  tlie  interests  of 
the  Company ;  and  this  consideration  alone  has  prevented  me  from  carrying  into 
effect  my  earnest  wish  to  retire. 

The  extension  of  the  main  line  of  the  road  being  effected  as  far  as  Harper's 
Ferry,  on  the  Potomac  River,  at  which  point  it  is  now  connected  with  the  Win- 
chester and  Potomac  Railway,  and  the  lateral  road  to  Washington  being  also 
opened  and  in  successful  operation,  I  feel  myself  at  liberty  to  withdraw  from  the 
situation  of  President  of  the  Company. 

On  retiring  from  a  position  in  which  I  have  received  so  many  proofs  of  your 
personal  friendship,  I  cannot  forbear  the  expression  of  my  most  grateful  ac- 
knowledgments. When  I  entered  upon  the  duties  of  this  office,  little  was  knowa 
in  our  country,  either  as  regarded  the  construction  of  railways,  or  the  applica- 
tion of  moving  power  upon  them,  and  indeed  the  experience  of  Europe  at  that 
time  offered  but  faint  and  very  uncertain  lights  in  relation  to  this  system  ;  we 
had  therefore,  of  necessity,  everj'  thing  to  learn,  and  without  your  constant  and 
cordial  co-operation,  I  am  sensible  I  could  not  have  sustained  myself  xmder  the 
many  complicated  difficulties  which  often  pi-essed  upon  me.  An  extensive  fund 
of  valuable  information  has  now  been  obtained,  a  universal  confidence  is  felt  in 
the  undertaking,  and  a  firm  determination  is  manifested  to  carry  it  forward  to 
its  final  completion,  as  originally  intended. 

Under  these  circumstances,  I  feel  assured  that  with  the  excellent  organization 
j-ou  have  adopted  in  relation  to  the  several  departments  into  which  the  concerns 
of  the  Company  are  divided,  its  further  management  will  be  rendered  much  less 
difficult,  and  that  the  early  completion  of  the  road  may  be  considered  as  certain. 
An  opportunitj"  will  then  be  afforded  of  fully  testing  the  visefulness  of  this  un- 
dertaking :  and  whilst  important  benefits  will  be  secured  to  our  country,  and 
especially  to  the  city  of  Baltimore,  by  the  facilities  opened  through  this  channel 
of  communication  with  the  West,  the  stockholders,  under  a  prudent  manage- 
ment of  their  afl'airs,  will  receive  a  fair  remuneration  for  their  capital  invested. 

With  the  assurance  of  my  highest  regard  and  esteem, 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  friend, 

P.  E.  THOMAS. 


V. 

THE  EXTENT  AND  IMPOKTANCE  OF  THE  BALTIMOEE  &  OHIO  EAILROAD, 

EXTEACT  FEOM  A  SPEECn  DELIVERED  BY  THE  HON.  EEVERDY  JOHNSON  BEFORE  THE  OIKCCIT 
COURT,  AT  BALTIMORE,  UI'ON  THE  "  EXTRA  DIVIDEND"  CASE. 

But  may  it  please  your  Honor,  he  who  does  not  know, — looking  to  the  extent, 
and  the  infinite  number  of  the  ramifications  connected  with  this  road,  he  who  does 


RAILROAD    SPEECH    OF    THE    HON.    RETERDY    JOHNSON.  1G5 

not  know  the  progress  in  wealth  and  prosperity  which  is  before  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  the  result  of  fortunate  climates,  free  institutions,  and  rich  and 
fertile  soils,  of  an  ingenious  and  industrious  people,  of  mineral  resources  to  be 
found  in  abundance  everywhere, — is  not  fit  for  a  seat  at  that  board.  You  do  not 
know,  your  Honor,  and  cannot  know, — for  it  has  not  been  the  subject  of  your 
study — what  this  road  is  to  be  in  the  future.  At  my  instance,  some  statements 
going  to  show  the  extent  and  importance  of  this  Road  and  its  connections  have 
been  placed  in  my  hands  by  a  gentleman  who  has  long  been  connected  with  this 
Company,  and  who  takes  a  very  lively  interest  in  it,  and  I  thought  it  was  due  to 
your  Honor  to  present  you  some  of  these  facts,  in  order  that  you  might  see  what 
a  mighty  engine  it  is  which  you  are  asked,  in  some  measure,  to  arrest,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  that  discretionary  process  of  injunction,  striking  down 
from  the  hands  of  the  Directors  the  power  of  management  over  the  Road,  which 
the  law  supposes  them  abundantly  able  to  manage,  and  therefore  intrusts  them 
so  far  as  words  can  go,  with  authority  to  manage.  I  thought  it  was  proper  that 
you  should  have  brought  before  you  the  actual  extent  of  this  great  work,  which 
practically,  according  to  the  doctrines  of  the  counsel  upon  the  other  side,  is  to  be 
conducted  here,  or  in  the  rooms  of  the  City  Council  of  Baltimore,  or  around  the 
table  of  some  stockjobbing  speculators.  Your  Honor  will  therefore  pardon  me, 
if  I  give  you  very  rapidly  some  general  idea  of  the  extent  of  this  work. 

Its  length  from  Baltimore  to  Wheeling  is  379  miles,  and  the  length  of  its 
branch  road  to  Washington  is  .31  miles.  Its  local  branches  and  its  tributaries, 
connecting  it  with  Frederick,  Md.,  Winchester,  Va.,  the  Coal  Mines  of  the  Cum- 
berland region,  and  other  coal  mines,  and  the  Parkersburg  branch,  just  added, 
give  it  some  175  miles  more,  making  an  aggregate  of  oS*5  miles ;  and  if  to  that 
you  add  the  extent  of  the  double  track  which  is  now  about  105  miles,  (without 
adding  the  extent  of  almost  one  hundred  miles  of  sideling,)  you  have  an  aggre- 
gate of  t)91  miles,  belonging,  or  exclusively  tributary,  to  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
R.  R.  Co.  But  this  is  only  the  beginning.  May  it  please  your  Honor,  what  are 
the  connections  it  has  all  around  the  compass?  Eastward,  it  is  connected  directly 
with  Portland,  in  the  State  of  Maine  ;  Southward,  near  the  Atlantic  Coast,  beyond 
the  Cape  Fear  River ;  Northwestward,  beyond  Wisconsin  to  Minnesota  Territory ; 
West,  to  St.  Josephs  and  Fort  Leavenworth,  on  the  confines  of  Kansas  ;  and 
Southwest,  to  New  Orleans.  And  its  lateral  ramifications,  maj"  it  please  your 
Honor,  during  these  immense  routes,  are  innumerable. 

On  the  East,  we  find  that  it  connects,  first,  with  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington 
and  Baltimore  Railroad,  98  miles,  to  Philadelphia,  where  it  then  connects  with 
the  Camden  and  Amboy  and  the  New  Jersey  Railroads,  the  one  87,  and  the 
other  9t;  miles  in  length.  That  carries  us  to  New  York  ;  from  New  York  to 
Boston  it  is  extended  by  two  at  least  of  the  inland  routes  to  that  city,  and  there 
we  have  the  Boston  and  Maine  Railroad,  111  miles,  which  virtually  continues 
our  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  to  Poitland.  These  are  all  now  in  operation, 
and  contribute  to  this  road,  making  in  the  aggregate  600  miles.  Besides  this,— 
as  your  Honor,  of  course,  knows, — we  have  also  through  the  intermediate  Canals, 
and  by  sea  around  the  Bay,  by  means  of  all  descriptions  of  Steam  and  Sail  Navi- 
gation, we  have  thousands  of  miles  of  substantial  business  connections. 

On  the  South,  we  connect  with  the  Potomac  River,  Richmond,  Fredericksburg, 


166   APPENDIX  TO  THE  "  RAILWAY  CELEBRATIONS  OF  1857." 

and  Potomac,  the  Orange  and  Alexandria,  the  Manassas  Gap,  the  Virginia  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  uniting  Baltimore  and  the  West  through  Baltimore  with  Richmond, 
Staunton,  and  all  the  intermediate  portions  of  Virginia ;  be.yond  Richmond,  the 
Richmond  and  Petersburg,  Roanoke  and  Weldon,  the  South  Side,  the  North 
Carolina  Central,  and  other  lines,  continue  these  connections  in  the  most  direct 
form  to  Southern  and  Central  Virginia,  with  Raleigh  and  the  greater  portion  of 
North  Carolina.  Beyond  Wilmington,  by  the  Wilmington  and  Manchester 
and  other  finished  roads,  all  portions  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina  are  united. 
I  have  got  them  all  here,  but  I  have  not  time  to  read  them  over.  I  have  read  all 
that  is  necessary  for  my  purpose. 

Now  see  its  direct  ramifications,  West.  In  looking  to  the  West,  we  find  that 
at  Benwood,  4  miles  below  Wheeling,  the  Road  unites  with  the  Central  Ohio 
Railroad,  running  through  the  heart  of  Ohio  to  Columbus,  137  miles.  At  Zanes- 
ville,  78  miles  from  Benwood,  upon  this  line,  the  Wilmington  Road  connects  it 
with  Cincinnati,  167  miles. 

At  Newark,  108  miles  from  Benwood,  the  Sandusky  and  Mansfield  Railroad 
diverges  to  Sandusky  on  Lake  Erie,  distant  112  miles.  At  Columbus,  the  Cen- 
tral Ohio  Road  unites  with  the  Cleveland  and  Columbus  Railroad,  138  miles  to 
Cleveland,  and  at  Columbus  it  also  unites  with  the  Little  Miami  Railroad  to  Cin- 
cinnati, liy  miles.  At  Parkersburg,  the  last  completed  terminus  of  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad,  an  important  new  connection  is  about  being  developed 
in  the  Marietta  Railroad,  which  is  to  connect  Baltimore  with  Cincinnati,  and 
through  Cincinnati  with  all  the  great  West  and  Southwest,  by  a  line  from  thirty 
to  sixty  miles  shorter  than  at  present.  At  Cincinnati,  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
Railroad,  a  great  enterprise — the  last  rail  of  which  is  perhaps  this  day  being 
laid — will  carry  the  Air  Line  connection  to  the  city  of  Saint  Louis,  335  miles  dis- 
tant, where,  again,  the  rapidly  extending  Pacific  Railroad  still  further  unites 
Jefferson  City,  the  capital  of  Missouri,  125  miles  further  west,  with  Baltimore, 
and  its  eastern  and  southei-n  connections.  The  various  lines  that  radicate  from 
and  concentrate  business  upon  these  trunk  lines  between  Baltimore  and  Missouri, 
are  almost  innumerable,  draining  the  States  of  Kentucky  and  Western  Tennessee, 
on  the  South,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  on  the  North,  and  Missouri  and  Kansas 
on  the  West.  I  have  not  half  exhausted  the  enumeration  of  these  uniting  lines, 
which,  in  the  aggregate,  form  a  system  of  nearly  8,000  miles  of  railroad,  and 
tributary  to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road. 

Need  I  ask  you,  may  it  please  your  Honor,  is  it  not  as  certain  as  the  revolu- 
tion of  the  seasons,  that  a  road  of  that  description  has  not  reachedin  its  present 
prosperity,  the  limit  of  which  it  is  capable  ?  It  is  evident,  manifestly  evident, 
that  this  work,  mighty  as  it  is  now,  great  and  extraordinary  as  is  the  wealth 
which  it  is  pouring  into  our  city  now — which  has  increased  the  value  of  our 
property  even  beyond  the  estimate  of  figures,  and  rendered  us  able  to  bear  taxa- 
tion which,  years  ago,  we  could  not  have  borne, — which  is  destined  in  a  few 
years,  comparatively  speaking,  in  the  age  of  a  city,  to  make  Baltimore  one  of  the 
first  cities  of  the  American  continent,  if  not  of  the  world,  in  all  the  grandeur  that 
consists  in  population,  in  arts  and  sciences,  and  in  wealth, — this  work  is  but  in 
its  infancy.  It  has  but  just  started  in  its  progress  of  perpetual  manhood,  which 
is  to  know  no  decay.     Its  charter  is  i)ermancut,  it  looks  to  all  time, — provided. 


HON.   REVERDY    JOHNSON yriNTER    SCENES.  167 

in  the  Providence  of  God,  those  institutions  of  ours, — the  freest  with  which  He 
ever  blessed  humanity, — are  suffered  to  remain,  with  an  ability  to  withstand  all 
the  arts  of  the  demajjosue  and  the  fanatic  ! 


WINTER    SCENES  ON  THE  B.VLTIMOEE  AND  OHIO  RAILROAD. 

The  following  par.agraphs,  which  appeared  under  the  above  caption  in  the- 
Baltimore  Sim,  on  the  29th  of  January,  1850,  will  be  read  with  interest  by  all 
who  have  ever  travelled  over  the  Western  divisions  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Road : 

The  extraordinary  weather  that  has  prevailed  in  this  latitude  for  the  past 
three  or  four  weeks  has  had  its  full  effect  upon  our  railroads  and  other  means  of 
travel  and  transportation.  At  times,  indeed,  it  was  thought  that  a  perfect  em- 
bargo had  been  laid  by  the  snow  upon  our  communications,  especially  those 
with  the  West.  When  it  is  remembered  that  the  Western  or  Mountain  divisions 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road,  with  their  long  grades,  deep  cuts,  enormous 
gorges,  (fee,  have  never  before  been  visited  with  a  serious  snow  storm  since  that 
great  work  was  opened  to  the  Ohio  river,  three  years  ago,  the  imusual  dilKcul- 
ties  lately  presented  will  be  better  understood.  One  whose  position  necessarily 
renders  him  conversant  with  these  difficulties,  as  well  as  the  means  which  are 
employed  for  achieving  a  triumph  over  them,  furnishes  us  the  following  interest- 
ing portraiture  of  the  present  "  winter  scenes  "  upon  the  road  : 

In  many  places  upon  this  magnificent  highway  the  Express  trains  have  had 
to  literally  plough  their  way  through  immense  drifts  of  snow,  often  from  six  to 
fifteen  feet  in  depth.  This  has  in  every  case,  however,  been  successfully  done, 
though  sometimes  requiring  the  united  power  of  four  and  five  of  the  pondrous 
Winans  engines  linked  together.  The  company  is,  fortunately,  well  supplied 
with  these  powerful  machines,  which  weigh  some  thirty  tons  each,  and  have 
great  tractive  power.  Their  resources  under  this  head  are  also  much  increased 
by  a  number  of  splendid  and  powerful  ten-wheel  engines,  built  by  the  Denmeads, 
and  at  their  own  shops,  by  Mr.  Hayes,  their  well  known  Master  Mechanic. 

The  encounters  with  the  snow  upon  this  road  have  led  to  some  very  thrilling 
scenes.  At  times  the  string  of  locomotives  with  their  bold  "  plow  "  in  front 
have  rushed  suddenly  upon  a  heavy  drift,  and  l)efore  their  power  has  been  checked 
by  the  opposing  force,  they  have  become  well  nigh  buried  in  the  white  bank. 
After  passing  through  this  obstruction,  the  engines  are  turned  around  at  the  next 
station,  and  renew  the  assault  from  the  opposite  direction,  thus  by  repeated 
efforts  effectually  pushing  off  and  "crushing  out"  the  obstinate  mass,  until  a 
lane  is  fomied  and  the  track  is  thoroughly  cleared  for  the  passage  of  the  regular 
trains.  These  trains  in  traversing  the  avenues  thus  made  for  them,  literally  pass 
through  the  snow,  for  it  is  piled  up  on  either  side  in  some  places  to  the  height  of 
the  car  tops.  An  interesting  view  of  this  character  may  now  be  seen  at  the 
passage  through  the  Carroll  Manor  in  Frederick  county,  but  Oo  miles  from  Balti- 
more, where  the  late  snows  have  invariably  drifted  across  the  road  to  a  great 
depth. 


168       APPENDIX    TO    THE    "RAILWAY    CELEBRATIONS    OF    1857." 

Perhaps  the  most  magnificent  phenomena  on  the  line  of  the  road  presented  by 
the  late  action  of  the  elements  are  to  be  witnessed  west  of  Piedmont  at  the  bold 
"  approach  cuts  "  to  the  larger  tunnels.  Here  are  views  worthy  of  the  poet  and 
the  painter,  and  that  would  justify  a  thousand  miles  journey.  As  you  enter  one 
of  these  cuts,  the  gaping  mouth  of  the  tunnel  is  seen  at  the  farther  end.  The 
sides  of  the  cut  are  quite  steep  and  rapidly  rise  until  the  head  is  reached,  at  the 
mouth  of  or  entrance  to  the  tunnel,  whei'e  they  are  from  forty  to  eighty  feet  in 
height.  This  forms  an  avenue  for  the  road,  open  above,  of  from  four  to  eight 
hundred  feet  in  length,  before  the  tunnel  itself  is  entered. 

The  whole  of  the  sides  of  these  great  chasms,  as  well  as  their  high  ends  at  the 
entrance  to  the  tunnel,  are  completely  covered  with  a  solid  coating  of  ice,  vary- 
ing in  thickness  from  two  inches  to  two  feet.  This  is  formed  by  the  congealing 
water  which  trickles  down  from  the  lofty  hills  around  and  above. 

This  sight  is  a  novel  one,  and  at  the  Board  Tree  and  Welling  Tunnels  ap- 
proaches the  sublime.  Ideas  of  the  Alpine  glaciers  at  once  possess  the  mind, 
while  the  gigantic  icicles  that  hang  from  the  higher  edges  of  the  cliffs  and  the 
mouths  of  the  excavations,  remind  us  of  the  stalactites  of  the  Mammoth  Cave, 
and  the  more  celebrated  Grotto  of  Antiparos.  At  any  time  this  scene  is  inspir- 
ing and  wonderful,  but  when  the  blight  sun  bestows  his  full  blaze  upon  its 
crowning  points,  the  effect  is  greatly  heightened.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  this 
great  road  presents  its  peculiarly  romantic  wintry  aspects,  as  well  as  its  already 
renowned  scenery  to  attract  the  eye  of  the  summer  tourist. 

It  is  to  be  presumed,  however,  that  the  severity  of  the  season,  which  has  closed 
the  Ohio  river  and  otherwise  impeded  the  connections  of  the  road,  besides  exer- 
cising a  depressing  effect  upon  business  affairs  generally,  has  operated  matei-ially 
against  the  company's  revenue  for  the  current  month.  It  is  said  that  the  biisi- 
ness  had  greatly  revived  last  week,  and  its  usiud  regularity  returned,  when  the 
new  and  heavy  weekly  instalment  of  snow  which  fell  Sunday  morning  and  yes- 
terdaj'  again  impedes  its  progress.  But  it  is  expected  that  no  serious  interrup- 
tion will  follow  this  last  storm,  as  all  things  were  in  readiness  for  the  labor  of 
clearing  the  track. 

We  may  allude  to  another  difficulty  with  which  the  company  has  had  to  con- 
tend during  the  recent  severe  weather;  this  is  the  great  effect  of  the  frost  upon 
the  machinery.  It  is  well  known  that  continued  frost  acts  with  damaging  effect 
upon  the  more  exposed  parts  of  cast  iron.  In  locomotives,  and  in  the  wheels, 
axles,  Ac,  of  all  cars,  this  is  especially  the  case.  We  hear  from  all  quarters  of 
the  effects  of  the  cold  in  this  particular.  The  newest  and  most  solidly  built  ma- 
chines are  not  exempt  from  this  liability,  and  it  may  be  safely  estimated  that  at 
no  previous  period  has  there  been  more  damage  resulting  from  the  weather, — in 
this  part  of  the  country  particularly, — than  during  the  last  three  weeks. 


"A  JUNE  JAUNT"  ON  THE  BALTBIOKE  AND  OHIO  RAILROAD. 

In  June,  ISiSG,  a  distinfrnished  party  of  gentlemen  tourists,  among  whom 
were  the  liistorian  Bancroft,  Prof.  Henry,  apd  several  others,  took  a  leisure  look 


THE    "JUNE    JAUNT,"    BY    BRANTZ    MAYER.  160 

at  the  liistorical  and  natural  scenery  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road.  Brantz 
Mayer,  the  Author,  was  of  the  number,  and  who  afterwards  published  a  very 
full  and  grajihie  account  of  the  trip  in  Harper's  Monthly  Mafjnzlnc.  From  this 
we  extract  the  following  paragraphs  relative  to  the  Mouutaiu  division  of  the 
Koad,  from  Piedmont  to  Grafton,  70  miles  iu  length  : 

"  No  one,  I  am  sure,  has  ever  looked  westward  from  this  point  without  won- 
dering how  the  passage  is  to  be  elfected ;  yet  no  one  has  made  the  jouniov  with- 
out equal  surprise  at  the  seeming  ease  by  which  science  and  energy  liave  ovei'- 
couie  every  impediment.  As  you  pass  forward  from  I'iediuont,  the  iuijjressiou 
is  that  you  are  about  to  rim  a  tilt  against  tiie  mountain  Hank  with  blind  and 
aimless  imimlse  ;  but  a  graceful  curve  winds  the  train  out  of  harm,  and  you  move 
securely  into  the  prinu-val  foi'est,  feelinu;  the  engine  begin  to  tug  up  the  steeps  as 
it  strikes  the  edge  of  Savage  Kiver,  which  boils  down  the  western  shoulder  of 
Savage  Mountain.  The  tiansit  from  the  world  to  the  wilderness  is  instantaneous. 
Jlr.  Bancroft  and  I  inovuitcd  the  engine  at  this  spot  so  as  to  enjoy  an  unobstructed 
view  of  the  scenery  during  the  ascent ;  and  although  a  gust  began  to  growl  over 
tile  mountains,  with  fre((uenf  flashes  of  lightning  and  thunder,  we  ke|)t  ourjxist, 
tinding  the  grandeur  of  the  prospect  enhanced  by  the  rush  of  the  storm  as  \vc 
rose  higher  and  higher  on  the  mountain  (lank. 

No  one  has  observed  tine  scenery  without  acknowledging  the  dilRcnlty  of  its 
descri])tion  ;  for  its  impression  is  j)urely  mnotional,  and  emotion  is  so  evanescent 
that  the  elfort  to  condense  it  into  language  destroys  the  sentiment  as  breith  de- 
stroys the  prisms  of  a  snow-llake.  AVe  nuiy  [rive  a  catalogue  of  pines,  precipices, 
rocks,  toirents,  ledges,  overarching  trees,  and  all  the  elements  that  make  one 
"feel  the  sublimity  of  a  stern  solitude;"  but  I  have  never  been  able  to  convey, 
by  words,  the  exact  impression  of  such  scenes,  nor  do  I  believe  we  can  obtain 
what  is  somewhere  called  "a  realizing  sense"  in  the  descriptions  of  others.  In 
this  rcsjiect,  music  and  painting  have  mcu'e  power  than  language  ;  music  has  the 
spirituality  which  painting  lacks,  and  painting  the  body  in  which  nmsic  is  defi- 
cient; but,  as  theii' efl'eets  can  never  be  comjiletely  united,  we  must  despair  of 
inlluencing  the  mind  at  second  hand  from  Nature. 

And  so  we  rolled  resistlessly  upward,  fiu'  seventeen  miles  along  the  broad 
ledges,  seeing  the  tree-tops  sinking  as  we  swooped  into  the  air,  which  freshened 
as  we  rose  ;  seeing  the  vale  grow  less  and  less,  and  the  summits  that  were  just 
now  above  us  come  closer  and  closer  till  we  touched  their  level  ;  seeing  the  river 
whence  we  started  shrink  to  a  film  in  its  bed;  and  seeing  the  narrow,  upward, 
imprisoning  glimpse  widen  int(j  a  downward,  distant  reach. 

On  we  hurried  without  halting  but  once,  till  we  turned  from  the  Savage  Valley 
info  the  Crabtree  Goige,  along  the  (lank  of  the  great  Alleghany  l?aekbone;  and 
a  few  miles  above  Frankville,  lan  eyrie  among  the  siunmits,  some  1,S00  feet 
above  tide,  and  1,1  oO  feet  above  rnmbcrland,)  east  our  eyes  back  toward  the 
north-east  for  a  rapid  glimpse  of  one  of  the  grandest  views  in  the  nmuntains. 
The  gloomy  nuisses  of  Savage  Monntain  tower  on  the  right,  fold  upon  fold,  and 
the  eastern  slopes  of  .Meadow  Mountain,  with  its  s]iuis,  on  the  left;  while  be- 
tween them  the  Savage  liiver  winds  away  for  miles  and  miles  in  a  silvery  frail 
till  it  is  lost  in  the  distance.  Throughimt  the  whole  passage  from  I'iedmont  to 
Altamont  (J.'liio  feet  above  tide  and  the  greatest  elevation  along  the  route)  the 
road  constantly  ami  almost  insensibly  ascends,  in  eveiy  portion  tilling  the  mind 
with  a  sense  of  as  perfect  security  as  if  the  transit  were  made  in  a  coach. 

At  Altamont  we  dipjied  over  the  eastern  edge  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  by  a 
slight  descent  entered  the  highland  basin  of  the  old  mountain  lakes,  which  ex- 
tends over  many  thousand  acres,  and  is  known  as  the  "  (ilades."  There  the 
Youghiogheny  fakes  its  rise,  while  the  dividing  ridge  of  the  great  Backbone 
sends  the  water  on  one  side  into  the  (Julf  of  Mexico,  ami  on  the  other  into  the 
Chesapeake.  These  beautiful  glades,  or  mmmtain  meadows,  are  not  coimected 
in  a  level  field  like  our  western  prairies,  but  lie  in  broken  outlines,  with  small 
wooded  ranges  between  them  or  jutting  out  from  their  midst  iu  moderate  eleva- 


170       APPENDIX    TO    THE    "  RAILWAY    CELEBRATIONS    OP    1857." 

tions.  At  this  height  the  air  is  extremely  rarefied  and  cool  throughout  summer; 
So  that,  although  (he  country  is  not  adapted  for  agriculture,  it  is  calculated  for 
every  species  of  animal  and  vegetable  life  that  is  disposed  to  run  wild  and  take 
the  world  as  it  finds  it.  It  is  rich  iu  all  the  natural  gi'asses  that  delight  a  herds- 
man, relieved  by  islands  of  white-oak  interspersed  with  alder  ;  it  is  full  of  copious 
streams,  kept  full  and  fresh  by  the  clouds  that  condense  round  the  summits  ;  its 
waters  are  alive  with  trout,  and  waste  themselves  in  deep  cascades  and  falls  after 
furnishing  pools  for  the  tish  ;  it  pastures  innumerable  herds  of  sheep,  whose  ten- 
derness and  flavor  rival  that  of  the  deer  which  abound  in  the  woods ;  wild  tur- 
keys and  pheasants  hide  among  its  oaks,  beeches,  walnuts,  and  magnolias ;  the 
sugar  maple  supplies  it  with  a  tropical  luxury  in  abundance  ;  the  woods  are  vocal 
with  larks,  thrushes,  and  mocking-birds  ;  and  in  the  flowering  season  nothing  is 
gayer  than  the  meadows  with  tlieir  showy  flowers. 

A  little  village  is  growing  up  at  Oakland  in  the  midst  of  these  glades,  as  a 
sort  of  nestling-place  for  folks  who  are  willing  to  be  satisfied  by  being  cool,  quiet, 
and  natural  dui'ing  summer.  We  halted  there  for  the  night,  and  were  not  re- 
luctant to  ensconce  ourselves  beneath  blankets  even  in  the  "  leafy  mouth  of 
June." 

In  order  to  make  a  new  resort  popular,  it  is  necessary,  as  the  world  goes,  to 
have  the  lead  of  a  fashionable  belle  or  the  command  of  a  fashionable  doctor. 
Nature,  of  itself,  is  not  sulliciently  attractive  for  artificial  society  ;  so  that  one 
must  either  be  ill  or  be  h-d,  in  order  to  adopt  what  is  really  good,  and  surround 
it  with  allurements  of  French  cookery,  fast  horses,  a  band  of  music,  and  weekly 
balls.  It  was  many  years  before  Saratoga  and  Newjjort  ripened  from  a  simple 
well  and  a  wild  sea-shore  into  the  luxuriant  style  of  Bath  and  Brighton.  Yet  I 
do  not  despair  of  seeing  the  day  when  the  Maryland  Glades,  the  head-waters  of 
Potomac  and  Cheat,  and  the  romantic  cascades  of  the  neighboring  Blackwater 
will  be  crowded  with  health-hunters.  The  turn  of  Nature  to  be  in  fiishion  again 
must  come  round  ;  for  when  invention  exhausts  the  artificial,  (and  the  age  of 
hoops  seems  verging  on  that  desirable  end,)  there  is  no  resource  but  simplicity. 
There  are  numbers  of  reasonable  people  who  must  be  eager  to  quit  the  beaten 
paths,  and  escape  to  spots  where  they  will  not  be  stifled  by  society ;  and  these 
glades  and  mountain  streams,  with  their  constant  coolness  and  verdure,  are  pre- 
cisely the  places  for  them.  For  several  years,  many  of  our  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginian sportsmen  have  been  fishing  the  streams  ;  beating  up  the  deer,  pheasants, 
and  wild  turkeys  ;  driving  over  the  fine  upland  roads  ;  drinking  the  pure  water  ; 
exercising  robustly  for  a  month  or  more ;  sleeping  soundly  every  night  of  July 
and  August,  and  getting  back  to  their  work  in  the  fall,  as  hearty  as  the  "  bucks  " 
they  made  war  on  in  the  mountains. 

Let  me  recommend  Oakland  to  a  cook  who  wishes  to  make  a  reputation 
on  venison  and  trout,  and  to  a  belle  who  is  brave  enough  to  Iring  Nature  into 
fashion  ! 

We  .slept  at  Oakland.  The  mists  hung  high  over  these  highlands  long  after 
sunrise,  and  the  air  was  so  bracing  that  we  found  overcoats  necessary  as  we  bowled 
across  the  great  Youghiogheny,  on  a  single  arch  of  timber  and  iron,  and  passed 
the  picturesque  Falls  of  Snowy  Creek,  where  the  road  quits  the  prairie  and  strikes 
a  glen  through  which  the  stream  brawls  in  foam,  contrasting  bravely  with  the 
hemlocks  and  laurels  that  line  the  pass. 

At  Cranberry  Summit  the  mountain-levels  and  glade-lands  terminate,  at  an 
elevation  of  2,.")r)0  feet  above  tide,  and  only  76  feet  lower  than  Altamont,  where 
we  entered  the  field,  twenty  miles  back. 

From  this  elevated  point  we  catch  the  first  grand  glimpse  of  the  "Western 
World,' '  in  a  long  gi'adiuil  sweep  down  the  Alloghanies  towai-d  the  affluents  of  the 
Ohio.  The  flescent  begins  instantly,  along  the  slopes  of  Saltlick  Creek,  through  a 
mass  of  excavations,  two  tunnels,  and  fifty  feet  of  viaduct.  Downward  and  down- 
M-ard  we  swept  as  comfortably  as  on  a  i)lain,  till  an  easy  and  almost  imperceptible 
descent  of  twelve  miles,  tliiougha  foiesl  nf  firs  and  jiiues,  brought  us  to  the  dark 
waters  of  Cheat  Ivivcr.  Aftei'  the  ditiirultics  of  ascending,  crossing  the  Backbone 
of  the  Alleglmny,  and  descen<iing  its  first  western  slujie-  all  of  which,  like  Colum- 
bus's discovery,  "  seem  so  easy  "  now  that  they  are  overcome — a  new  marvel  has 


BRANTZ  Mayer's  account  of  the  b.  &  o.  railroad.     171 

been  accomplished  in  the  preservation  of  a  hicrh  level  by  massive  viaducts  and 
by  boring  the  mountains  witli  tunnels.  On  ('heat  Iviver,  at  tlie  bottom  of  this 
descent,  we  approached  tlie  tirst  of  Ihese  marvels,  two  noble  arches  of  iron,  firm 
and  sul)stantial  as  the  mountains  they  join.  Then  conies  the  ascent  of  Cheat 
Kiver  Ilitl.  Next  arc  the  slopes  of  Laurel,  and  its  spurs,  with  the  river  on  the 
ri^ht ;  till  the  dellof  Kyer's  Run  is  passed  on  an  embaiiknieiit,  and  IJuckeye  Hol- 
low crossed  on  a  solid  work  whose  foundations  are  laid  deejily  below  the  level  of 
the  road.  Both  of  these  splendid  structures  have  walls  of  masonry,  built  of  the 
adjacent  rock. 

Beyond  this  we  reach  Tray  Run,  which  is  passed  by  an  iron  viaduct,  six 
hundred  feet  in  length,  founded  on  a  massive  base  of  masonry  as  linn  as  the 
mountain  itself.  All  these  remarkable  works — chiefly  designed  by  Jlr.  Fink — 
have  borne  the  trial  of  heat  and  frost,  ti-avel  and  iransi)ortatioii  for  several 
years ;  and  when  closely  inspected,  their  immense  solidity,  security,  and  strength, 
are  as  easily  tested  by  the  eye  as  tliey  have  been  by  use  and  time. 

These  beautiful  structures  had  hardly  been  passed  when  we  wound  upward 
across  Bncktliorue  Branch,  and  half  a  mile  furthei',  left  the  declivities  of  Cheat 
River,  with  its  brown  waters  dyed  by  tlie  loots  of  laurel  and  hemlock,  and  bor- 
dered by  the  bright  flowers  of  tlie  rhododendron.  Our  last  glimpse  of  this  moun- 
tain liver  was  through  a  tall  arch  of  forest,  rounding  oti',  far  below,  in  its  dark 
valley  of  uninhabited  wilderness. 

Beyond  Cassidy's  Ridge  we  encountered  another,  and  perhaps  the  mo.st  re- 
markable of  these  gigantic  works.  The  road  can  only  escape  from  its  mountain 
prison  by  bursting  the  wall.  Up  hill  and  down  hill,  through  brake  and  ravine, 
it  has  cleft  its  way  from  Piedmont,  like  a  jirisoner  seeking  release  from  his  bars, 
till  at  last  it  finds  a  bold  barrier  of  22o  feet  abruptly  opposed  to  its  departure! 
For  a  while,  (before  the  entire  completion  of  the  road,  i  engineering  skill  led  a 
track  over  this  steep  hij  an  accent  of  i>O0/eet  in  a  mite  ;  but  finally  the  giant  has 
been  subdued,  and  the  last  great  wall  of  the  Alleghanies  passed  by  piercing  the 
mountain.  For  nearly  three  vears  crowds  of  laborers  were  engaged  in  blasting 
through  solid  rock  the  4,100  feet  of  the  Kingwood  Tunnel,  and  a  year  and  a  half 
more  was  spent  in  shielding  it  with  iron  and  brick,  so  as  to  make  its  walls  more 
solid,  if  possible,  than  the  original  hills. 

For  five  miles  from  the  western  end  of  this  tunnel,  we  descended  to  the 
broader  valleys  about  Raccoon  Creek,  and  gliding  through  another  tunnel  of  2'i0 
feet,  foUowedthe  water  till  we  entered  the  Ty<cart  River  Valley,  at  (irafton,  where 
the  North-western  Railway  diverges  to  Paikersburg,  on  the  Oliio,  ninety-five 
miles  below  Wheeling.  The  establishments  of  the  Company  at  this  point  are 
erected  in  the  most  sul)stantial  way  for  the  comfort  and  security  of  all  who  may 
visit  this  interesting  region. 

There  are  few  routes  of  travel  in  America — and  none,  probably,  by  rail — 
worthier  of  attention  than  the  region  between  the  slopes  of  the  western  glade- 
land  to  the  mountain  exit  at  Kingwood.  It  is  all  absolute  mountain,  absolute 
forest,  absolute  solitude.  In  winter  it  is  the  vei-y  soul  of  desolation,  when  the 
trees  are  iced,  like  huge  stalactites,  from  top  to  bottom,  and  the  ravines  among 
the  cliffs  blocked  with  drifted  snow.  But  in  spring  or  summer  it  jircsents  splen- 
did bits  of  forest  scenery.  The  glens  are  narrow,  and  there  are  few  distant 
prospects  ;  but  there  is  every  wliere  the  same  ragged  gloom — the  same  overarch- 
ing hemlocks  and  firs — the  same  torrent  roar,  foaming  over  rocky  beds — the  same 
fringing  of  thick-leaved  laurel -the  same  oozy  ))laslies  of  morass,  rank  with  dark 
vegetation — the  same  black  mountain  face — the  same  absence  of  people  and 
farms — the  same  sense  of  absolute  solitude. 

But  in  Tygart's  Valley  the  landscajie  softens  and  becomes  more  human,  with 
the  marks  of  agriculture  and  habitation,  and  the  road  seems  to  bound  along 
more  gaylv,  as  if  exulting  in  its  release  from  the  iiiouutaiii.  The  river  winds 
gently  through  rounder  and  lower  hills  and  broader  meadows,  broken  only  by 
"  the" Falls, ""which,  in  a  few  steej)  jiitches,  tumble  seventy  foci  in  the  distanceof 
a  mile.  Not  far  from  this  point,  Tygart  River  and  the  AVest  Fork  unite  to  form 
the  Monongahela,  wliii'h,  a  (piarter  of  a  mile  below  the  junction,  is  crossed  by  an 


172  APPENDIX  TO  "the  railway  celebrations  of  1857." 

iron  viaduct  650  feet  lona; — the  largest  iron  bridge  in  America,  and  due  to  the 
engineering  skill  of  Mr.  iFink. 

"in  these  central  solitudes  every  thing  seems  to  be  the  property  of  the  wilder- 
ness— a  wilderness  incapable  of  yieldmg  to  any  masteiy  but  that  of  an  engineer ; 
and  it  muy  fairly  become  a  matter  oi  national  pride,  that  scientific  men  were 
found  in  oiir  country  bold  enough  to  venture  on  grades  by  which  any  mountain 
may  be  passed.  Where  ground  was  wanted.  Nature  seemed  to  have  scooped  it 
away ;  where  it  was  not  wanted.  Nature  seemed  to  have  stacked  it  up  for  future 
y)urposes.  There  arc  considerable  difficulties  between  Baltimore  and  Cumber- 
land; yet,  in  a  country  which  rises  only  639  feet  above  tide  in  179  miles,  a  road 
may  be  constructed  by  ordinary  perseverance  and  skill.  But  they  who  desire  to 
understand  the  power  of  science  in  conquering  nature  by  steam  and  iron,  must 
climb  and  cross  the  Alleghanies  between  Piedmont  and  Kingwood.  The  success 
of  this,  the  most  difficult  portion  of  the  enterprise,  is  due  to  the  engineering  of 
Mr.  Latrobe,  and  the  financial  energy  of  Mr.  Swann. 

As  the  pioneer  of  such  internal  improvements  in  the  Union,  it  has  been  the 
school  for  subsequent  railways,  and  deserves  the  gratitude  of  scientific  men  for 
the  true  principles  of  location  and  construction.  The  bridging  and  tunneling 
alone  along  the  whole  route,  amount  to  iihoni  five  and  a  quartei'miles  ;  the  labor- 
ers and  employes  form  almost  five  regiments  in  number ;  and,  when  we  take 
into  consideration  the  depots,  tanks,  engines,  rails,  station-houses,  and  innumer- 
able cars  for  freight  and  travel,  as  well  as  the  two  lines  of  telegraph  wires,  be- 
longing exclusively  to  the  Company,  which  keep  every  portion  in  communi- 
cation and  successful  operation  throughout  the  line,  one  no  longer  wonders  that 
twenty-five  millions  were  expended  on  the  structure,  but  is  only  surprised  that 
the  people  of  a  small,  single  btate,  could  accomplish  so  colossal  an  enterprise. 


THE  PRESIDENTIAL  INAUOITRATION,— CAPACITY  OF  RAILROADS  FOR 
TRANSPORTING  LARGE  MASSES  OF  PEOPLE. 

The  Baltimore  and  "Washington  newspapers  teemed  with  accounts  of  the 
prodigies  performed  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  in  its 
very  laYge  operations  in  transporting  visitoi's  to  Washington  to  witness  the  In- 
aug^uration  of  President  Buchanan  on  the  4th  of  March,  1857.  The  ease  and 
thoroughness  with  which  this  great  movement  of  the  masses  was  executed, 
affords  a  striking  illustration  of  the  value  of  the  railroad  system  in  promptly 
concentrating  an  army  at  a  given  point  for  defence.  It  has  been  since  esti- 
mated by  an  officer  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Company, — the  pioneer  in  the 
system  in  our  country — that  in  an  emergency  requiring  it,  this  road  could 
transport  from  Ohio  to  Baltimore  witliin  30  hours  an  army  of  10,000  men, 
with  all  their  munitions,  without  exhausting  the  resources  of  the  road 

One  of  the  notices  alluded  to,  in  a  Baltimore  Journal,  of  March  7th,  was  as 
follows  : — 

Ext raordi nary  Railroad  Travrl. — The  nimiber  of  persons  carried  into  Wash- 
ington bv  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  duiing  the  four  days  ending  with 
noon  (if  tlie  fourth  instant,  is  said  to  be  as  nearly  as  it  is  possible  to  get  at  it,  be- 
tween 10,01)1)  and  ll.Ooo.  As  the  same  number  will  l)p  likely  to  have  been  brought 
away  fioni  Wasiiingtoii  duiing  the  succeeding  f'nui'  days,  we  have  thus  the  ex- 
traordinary and  piobably  altogetiier  iiuprecedcnted  aggregate  of  21,000  persons 
transported  in  eight  consecutive  days  by  a  single  track  railroad  between  two  of 


FACILITIES    FOR    TRANSPORTING    AN    ARMY.  173 

the  principal  cities  of  the  Union,  40  miles  apart.  AVIicn  it  is  borne  in  mind  that 
this  has  been  done  promptly  and  reijularly,  and  in  the  most  .satisfactory  manner ; 
that  it  has  been  attended  with  no  loss  of  life  or  limb,  or  even  the  slightest  per- 
sonal injuiT  ;  and  that  (as  far  as  the  othcers  of  the  road  are  advised)  not  a  single 
article  of  baggage  has  been  lost,  it  certainly  presents  a  favorable  result,  of  which 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company  and  the  Baltimore  community  may 
be  proud. 

At  times  as  many  as  two  or  three  thousand  persons,  mostly  men,  have  been 
congregated  at  the  Camden  Station  in  tliis  city,  upon  the  departure  of  the  cars, 
but  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  not  a  single  disturbance  or  .serious  altercation  has  oc- 
curred. This  gratifying  fact  is  attributed  by  the  Company  to  the  constant  pres- 
ence of  a  strong  and  attentive  police  force,  under  the  direct  charge  of  Mr.  Manly, 
the  new  deputy  marshal,  assisted  by  sergeant  Pamphillion.  Mr.  (Jorman,  of  the 
detectives,  with  Messrs.  Potee,  Graham  and  McKinley,  were  specially  devoted 
in  their  polite  attentions  to  the  very  large  and  interesting  assortment  of  profes- 
sional and  amateur  pickpockets  who  had  evidently  expected  to  make  their  harvest 
at  this  juncture.  Besides  these,  Mr.  Chisholm  and  Mr.  Woodall,  the  Company's 
regular  policemen,  did  their  usual  ^ood  service  in  this  Babel  of  excitement. 

The  Master  of  Tiansportation,  Dr.  Woodside,  although  confined  by  illness, 
with  his  usual  industry  and  forethought,  prepared  his  arrangements  at  home. 
They  were  put  into  execution  by  his  assistant,  W.  P.  Smith,  and  J[r.  Jos.  Brown, 
general  supervisor  of  trains,  and  his  assistant,  Mr.  A.  Diftey.  The  oliiceis  of  the 
other  departments  of  the  Railroad  service  contributed  their  aid,  partieuhirly 
Messrs.  Tyson  and  Rennie,  heads  of  the  machinery,  and  Mr.  Jno.  R.  Smith, 
James  Anderson  and  William  Hughes,  and  the  several  engineers  of  the  six  ex- 
cellent locomotives  engaged  in  this  laborious  duty.  Messrs.  L.  M.  Cole,  general 
ticket  agent,  and  J.  T.  England,  agent  of  the  Camden  station,  deserve  most  con- 
spicuous mention  for  their  zeal  and  their  experienced  eflbrts  in  carrying  on  the 
extraordinary  movement  of  trains.  The  heaviest  trains  in  this  week's  work  on 
the  road  have  been  drawn  by  the  large  ten-wheeled  engines,  which  have  thus 
proved  themselves  a  most  reliable  and  efficient  machine,  carrying  from  20  to  '24 
full-sized  passenger  cars  packed  with  people,  in  less  than  two  hours  between 
Baltimore  and  AA  ashington. 

The  conductors  on  these  human  caravans  were  Messrs.  J.  W.  Showacre, 
John  Collins,  George  W.  Hoover,  George  A.  Rawlings,  Wm.  P.  Gorsurch,  J.  P. 
Dukehart  and  Edward  Thompson,  and  their  peculiarly  heavy  task  seems  to  have 
been  cheerfully  and  properly  performed. 

We  are  thus  particular  in  attempting  to  give  due  credit  in  this  connection, 
because  the  universal  sentiment  deiiuuids  an  expression  of  our  approbation  of  the 
complete  and  harmonious  manner  in  which  the  officers  and  men  of  the  road  have 
executed  their  great  and  responsible  undertaking. 


ONE  TVOED  ABOUT  RAILKOAD  CONDUCTORS. 

How  much  it  adds  to  the  comfort  of  travelling  to  be  placed  in  charge  of  gen- 
tlemanly, polite  and  attentive  conductors.  We  have  seen  persons  in  charge  of 
railroad  trains  who  evidently  appreciated  the  importance  of  their  position.  The 
oflSce  of  a  conductor  is  a  responsible  one,  and  they  seem  determined  that  every 
one  should  know  that  theij  felt  it  so.  To  travel  under  the  direction  of  such  a 
man,  all  dignity  and  self-importance,  is  the  most  unmitigated  bore  I  know  of. 
But  I  am  glad  to  say  from  the  experience  of  my  present  route,  such  instances  are 
not  frequent.  I  have  not  met  a  single  example  of  starched  importance,  or  gioss 
impertinence  on  any  of  the  roads  I  have  travelled.     It  is  particularly  due  to  the 


174       APPENDIX    TO    "the    RAILWAY    CKLEBRATIONS    OF    1857." 

conductors  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  and  the  Central  Ohio  railroads,  to  say 
that  they  are  gentlemanly  and  attentive  to  the  wants  of  travellers.  I  do  not 
mean  that  outside  politeness,  which  has  a  bow  and  a  smile  always  ready,  but 
that  more  solid  sort  which  anticipates  the  wants,  and  prompts  to  little  acts  of 
attention  so  acceptable  to  a  stranger,  and  which  makes  one  feel  at  home  and" 
cared  for.  It  is  this  politeness  exercised  towards  every  one,  which  makes  these 
roads  so  comfortable  to  travel  on. —  Cincinnati  Railroad  Record. 


THE  PRESENT  EXTENT  OP  THE  RAILROAD  SYSTEM. 

The  New  York  Courier  and  Enquirer  of  a  recent  date,  gives  a  summaiy 
showing  the  number  of  miles  and  cost  of  railroads  in  the  world.  The  sum- 
mary is  of  later  date  than  the  separate  statements  given  by  the  different 
writers  on  railroads — Tooke,  Gardner,  and  others — and,  of  course,  shows  an 
increase.  There  is  a  discrepancy  between  the  number  of  miles  in  operation 
in  Germany,  according  to  the  authority  of  Tooke,  and  the  following.  This  is 
explained  by  the  fact  that  many  of  the  railroads  stated  by  Tooke  as  belonging 
to  Germany  should  be  placed  in  the  column  of  French  aud  Belgic  Bailroads. 
The  following  table  also  exhibits  the  low  cost  of  American  Railroads  compared 
with  those  of  Europe : 

COMPARATIAE    TABLE    OF    RAILROADS    IN    OPERATION. 

English  miles.  Cost  in  dollars.    Cost  per  mile. 

United  States  (1.S56) 26,000  $920,000,000  83.=',000 

Great  Britain  (1855) 8,297  1,487,010,420  179,1)00 

France  (185i'i) 4,038  616,118,995  laL'.UW 

Germany  (1855  > 3,213  228,000,000            71,000 

Prussia  (1855) 1,290  145,000,000            63,000 

Belgium  (1855) 1,095  98,500, 000            90,000 

British  Provinces 823  41,600,000            50,000 

Cuba 359  16,100,000            45,0(i0 

Panama 47  7,000,000  15o,000 

South  America 60  4,500,000            75,000 

Russia 422  42,500,000  100,000 

Sweden 75  7,.500,000  luo,oOO 

Italv 170  17,000,000  100,0(10 

Spain 60  6,100,000  100,000 

Africa 25  3,100,000  125,000 

India 100  15,000,000  150,000 

Total 46,074      $3,655,435,415         $79,000 

Accompanying  this  a  table  appears,  showing  the  railroad  progress  in  the 
United  States  for  the  year  1S57,  and  a  comparative  view  of  the  progress  an- 
nually in  each  State  since  1828,  the  date  of  the  beginning  of  the  s^'stem. 

From  the  column  showing  the  number  of  miles  for  the  year  ending 
January,  1858,  we  find  that  there  were   only  about  seventeen  hundred  miles 


PRESENT    EXTENT   OF    THE    RAILROAD    SYSTEM.  l75 

named  or  built  during  the  year,  which  is  a  smaller  number  than  for  any  year 
since  1850.  The  construction  of  American  railroads  for  the  past  year  of  1857 
has  been  principally  in  the  following  States,  namely  :  Pennsylvania,  Virginia, 
Florida,  Temiessce,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Wisconsin,  Iowa  and  Missouri. 

The  Courier  observes  that: — The  progress  of  railroads  in  the  United  States, 
their  effect  upon  the  prosperity  of  the  country,  and  their  future  prospects,  are 
much  beyond  the  wildest  dreams  of  the  originators  of  the  system.  The  number 
of  miles  built  in  the  first  ten  years  of  our  railroad  history,  beginning  in  the  year 
1828,  was  1,843,  of  which  New  York  State  built  18  per  cent.  The  number  of 
miles  built  in  the  second  ten  j^ears,  or  from  1838  to  1848,  was  3,039,  of  which 
New  York  built  15  per  cent.  From  1847  to  1856  the  number  built  was  18,794, 
of  which  New  York  State  built  9  per  cent.  At  the  present  time  New  York  State 
has  over  11  per  cent,  of  the  total  length  of  railroads,  and  ranks  next  to  Illinois 
in  number  of  miles.  Our  railroad  history  has  had  two  eras — the  fii-st,  from  1828 
to  1848,  when  there  was  in  the  number  of  miles  built  an  average  increase  of  268 
miles  per  year — and  the  second  from  1848  to  1856,  having  an  average  increase 
of  2,3.50  miles  per  year.  In  many  of  the  States  the  development  of  the  railroad 
system  is  quite  equal  to  the  wants  of  the  people — but  in  many  others,  Kentucky 
being  the  most  notable  instance,  it  is  much  less. 

For  the  next  few  years,  new  railroads  will  have  to  be  built  by  local  assistance 
and  with  the  aid  of  the  State  to  be  benefited.  The  time  has  past  for  the  West 
to  depend  upon  us  for  capital,  or  for  us  to  look  to  Europe." 

R.\iLROAD  Progress  in  the  United  States. — Interesting  Statistics. 
The  Secretary  of  the  U.  S.  Treasury,  in  his  last  annual  report,  stated  the 
railroad  debt  of  the  United  States  at  four  hundred  millions  of  dollars,  and  at- 
tributed no  little  of  the  monetary  disturbances  of  the  country  to  the  very  heavy 
and  frequently  indiscreet  expenditures  and  action  of  these  roads.  The  New 
York  Railroad  Journal  estimates  that  §1,000,000,000  have  been  expended 
upon  the  work  already  completed  or  now  in  course  of  construction ;  the  an- 
nual receipts  being  -s  120,000,000,  affording  a  net  revenue  of  five  per  cent, 
upon  the  entire  cost.  This  statement  is  more  favorable  than  has  been  expected, 
— if  it  is  fully  reliable. 

In  the  year  1857,  1,920  miles  of  new  roads  were  opened,  and  since  1850, 
19,000  miles.  The  number  of  miles  in  operation  in  1858,  is  set  down  at  26- 
210,  agninst  15,511  in  1854,  10,898  in  1852,  and  7,350,  in  1850.  The  ac- 
tual number  of  miles  in  each  State,  and  the  aggregate  cost,  are  said  to  be  as 
follows : — 

Miles.  Cost. 

Maine 543i  |17,36.5,220 

New  Hampshire 631t  19,766,405 

Vermont 557  23,322,035 

Massachusetts 1,338  71,569,326 

Rhode  Island 98  4,384,489 

Connecticut 682  21,788,477 


176       APPENDIX    TO    TUB    "  RAILAVAY    CELEBRATIONS    OF    1857." 

Miles.  Cost. 

New  York 2,.590  143,-316,876 

New  Jersey 468J  24,552,397 

Pennsvlvauia 2,545  96,031,086 

Delaware 101                      2,034,351 

Maryland 671i  37,422,742 

Virginia 1,233  34,583, 0.s2 

North  Carolina 586  11,421,939 

South  Carolina 943^  lG,2os,()70 

Georgia 89  24,536, i;56 

Alabama 559|  17,89-_',:i37 

Mississippi 469                      5,457,274 

Florida 112i                    2,275,000 

Louisiana 260                     8,375,h;)1 

Texas 127                      1,816,'J92 

Arkansas 39                       780,ni;tO 

Tennessee 635i  22,375,515 

Kentucky 314  12,112,092 

Ohio 2,946  89,140,442 

Indiana 1,799  39,556,987 

Michigan 614  36,617,323 

Illinois 2,677  87,848,448 

Missouri 342  17,777,414 

Iowa 311                      7,751,646 

Wisconsin 8721  21,403,814 

California 22i                    1,100,000 

Total 26,210  $919,990,516 

In  the  year  1857,  there  were  in  the  United  States  12G  railroad  accidents, 
causing  the  death  of  130  persons  and  wounding  530  others.  This  is  a  de- 
cline on  the  previous  year.  In  Great  Britain,  during  1856,  281  persons  were 
killed  by  the  railroads  and  894  injured,  out  of  an  aggregate  number  of  129, 
347,592  passengers.  The  per  cent,  of  killed  being  only  .07,  and  of  -wounded 
2.18,  or  in  other  words,  one  person  in  every  sixteen  million  was  killed,  and  one 
in  every  four  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  wounded. 


THE  VALUE  AND  IMPORTANCE  OF  RAILROADS. 

The  National  Intelligencer — the  Nestor  of  Newspapers, — in  a  very  recent 
number,  says  : — 

"We  have  heard  of  a  farmer  in  the  Tenth  Legion  of  Virginia,  who  is  an  unbe- 
liever in  the  benefit  of  Railroads,  and  opposed  to  his  county's  giving  any 
encouragement  to  the  making  of  one  through  it.  As  there  may  be  "  more  of  the 
same  sort"  in  that  region  of  the  Ancient  Dominion,  we  insert  for  their  edifica- 
tion, if  they  "  ever  read  the  papers,"  the  subjoined  forcible  article  from  the 
Philadelphia  Inquirer,  and  which  we  understand  is  from  the  practical  pen  of  the 
Hon.  Joel  B.  Sutherland,  of  Pennsylvania. 

From  the  Philadelpliia  Inquirer. 

The  railroad  interest  is  sadlv  depressed  at  the  present  time.  We  are  sorry, 
moreover,  to  see  a  disposition  in  some  quarters  still  further  to  depreciate  this 


THE    VALUE    AND    IMPORTANCE    OF    RAILROADS.  177 

invaluable  species  of  property.  The  railroads  are  iimon<i  the  essentials  of  the 
age.  No  great  country  can  do  without  them.  Tlicy  facilitate  trade  and  travel, 
increase  the  value  of  land,  and  oiicn  up  to  tlio  haidy  pioncci-  new  luimes  and  fresh 
sources  of  independence  and  wealtli.  Wh:it,  indcc<l,  would  I'hihidclphia,  New 
Yol'k,  Hoston,  and  Baltimore  be  witliont  laihoads?  What  woukl  be  the  condi- 
tion of  tlie  mighty  West  at  this  time  but  for  these  great  Ijighw.iys,  these  links  of 
steel  which  bind  the  Union  together  in  a  common  brotheihood  ?  But  let  us  enter 
somewhat  into  detail,  and  show  the  true  use  of  railroads.  A  thousand  points 
might  be  stated  calculated  to  prove  their  advantages ;  but  on  the  present  occa- 
sion we  will  contine  ourselves  to  a  few.  First,  then.  They  carry  the  mails  of 
the  United  States  witli  a  certainty  and  celerity  never  anticipated  in  olden  times. 
Nor  do  tln'v  allow  niail-r()l)l)ers  to  sto]i  the  cars  and  bear  away  the  letters. 

2.  They  transport  the  soldiers  of  the  Kepublic,  with  all  the  munitions  of  war, 
at  all  times,  cheaply  and  expeditiously.  During  the  war  of  1«12  a  barrel  of  flour 
at  Buffalo  cost  §70,  in  consequence  of  the  almost  impassable  roads  thither,  and 
the  snail-like  travel  of  the  horse  and  wagon  line. 

8.  They  have  enhanced  the  value  of  lands  greatly  in  the  Eastern  and  Middle 
sections  of  the  Union,  and  in  thealmost  boundless  West,  the  value  of  the  territory 
is  nearh/,  if  not  quite,  quadrupled  In/  tla'tn. 

4.  They  have  enlarged  our  conunerce  between  the  several  States  immensely. 
In  fact,  thcv  may  be  said  to  have  tukeii  up  whole  cities,  with  their  almost  count- 
less iniiabitants,  quietly,  as  if  by  magic,  and  have  set  them  down  in  close 
proximity  to  other  flourishing  cities. 

a.  They,  with  the  Telegraph,  give  speedy  notice  of  the  illness  of  sick  or  dying 
friends,  and  ti'anspoit  us  to  the  bedside  of  those  we  love  at  a  moment  most  de- 
sired in  one's  whole  existence. 

G.  Without  them  the  people  of  the  Eastern  metropolitan  cities  would  be  left 
in  a  great  measure  destitute  of  beef  and  produce  from  the  great  West. 

7.  They  protect  our  seaboard  from  the  assault  of  a  foreign  enemy,  as  they  can 
upon  \\\Q  flash  of  the  telegraph  notify  the  whole  West  if  any  foe  should  threaten 
to  land  upon  our  soil,  and  thus  hurry  down  to  the  point  of  attack  innumerable 
men  and  arms  to  drive  back  the  assailants. 

8.  Nay,  more,  they  may  be  said  to  stand  in  stead  of  forts  ;  for  no  nation  would 
think  of  venturing  to  land  with  such  swift  and  jn-ompt  lines  of  railroads  to  pour 
down  our  forces  upon  them  almost  iuslaiitaneonKli/. 

ii.  It  is  now  conceded  by  all  relleeting  men,  that  if  a  railroad  had  been  in  ex- 
istence between  Philadeli)hia  and  Washington,  the  British  would  never  have 
made  an  assault  ui)on  the  capital  of  our  country. 

10.  Nor  would  the  French  and  English  armies  have  carried  the  war  into  the 
Crimea  if  the  Emperor  Nicholas,  before  he  hroke  with  the  Turks,  had  been  as  sa- 
gacious as  many  represented  him  to  be,  and  constructed  railroads  to  lun  to  the 
Black  Sea,  and  thus  at  any  moment  have  had  it  in  his  power  to  eurry  all  Russia 
in  arms  to  meet  an  approaching  hostile  force. 

11.  Our  railroads  are,  therefore,  a  wall  of  defence,  and  may  be  pronounced 
ih^  preservers  of  the  peace  of  our  Republic. 

12.  So  prodigiously  important  are  our  railroads,  that  were  the  companies  to 
stop  runninr/  the  cars  for  a  siiKjle  week,  the  whole  countiy  would  come  to  a  stand 
sfiU;  our  trade  and  commerce  with  the  interior  would  be  f^W(/ «/,  and  our  cities 
be  filled  with  disinav. 

1:5.  Kaili-oads  should,  therefore,  be  sustained,  that  their  benefits  may  be 
properly  distributed.  Surely  every  traveller  would  gladly  agree  to  pay  sufficient 
to  five  them  « ./;/«<  remuneration,  and  thus  shield  these  leading  lines  of  travel 
thai  are  now  almost  diiven  to  the  verge  of  bankruptcy  from  so  disastrous  a 
calamitv. 

14.  The  editors  of  the  public  press  are  deeply  interested  in  the  permanency 
and  success  of  the  railroads.  They  carry  their  journals  from  one  end  of  this 
bioad  Union  to  the  other.  They  impart  life  to  trade  cverywheie.  They 
fill  our  ships  with  produce  at  the  whaives,  and  cany  from  our  landings  mer- 
chandise to  the  remotest  boundaries  of  the  nation.     Now  and  then  accidents  may 


178     APPENDIX   TO    THE    "RAILWAY    CELEBRATIOXS   OE    1857." 

happen,  but  always  solely  against  the  will  of  the  companies.     Nor  should  courts 
or  juries  pursue  the  goose  that  lays  the  golden  egg  and  kill  her. 

15.  Our  vast  country  can  only  be  traversed  hy  railroads.  They  have  become 
an  institution ,  and  cannot  be  abandoned.  Let  us,  therefore,  support  them  with 
a  liberal,  if  not  a  generous  hand. 

16.  Congress  should  compensate  them  in  a  proper  spirit.  The  Government 
now,  by  the  enterprise  of  these  companies,  get  swift  and  sure  mails,  and  by  them, 
too,  they  are  virtually  protected  from  foreign  assault  upon  its  vast  boundaries. 

17.  Besides,  in  many  instances,  where  rails  are  imported,  the  railroad  com- 
panies pay  for  duties  on  their  rails  more  than  they  receive  for  transporting  the 
Government  mails. 

18.  Moreover  we  should  look  to  the  countless  number  of  persons  in  the  con- 
stant employ  of  the  railroads,  who  are,  even  at  tlm  time,  Tcept  on  duty. 

19.  The  compensation  to  be  paid  them  should  be  so  ample  as  to  keep  their 
stock  at  par,  constantly  at  par,  and  then  men  would  not  lose,  whose  public  spirit, 
in  many  instances,  urged  them  on  to  unite  the  vast  interests  of  the  people  by 
iron  bands  in  one  brotherhood  of  affection. 

'20.  The  railroads  should,  therefore,  act  in  concert,  raise  their  tariff  of  charges 
to  a  just  height,  and  not  drag  out  an  existence  of  feebleness,  resulting  in  some 
measure  from  their  own  rivalries. 

But  enough  for  the  present.  The  subject  is  an  important  one,  and  we  may 
return  to  it  again.  Millions  of  money  have  been  expended  in  railroads,  and 
thousands  of  citizens  have  invested  their  funds  in  this  description  of  property. 
Let  us  hope  that  the  day  is  at  hand  when  confidence  will  revive,  and  when  by 
some  general  and  enlightened  system  of  reform  and  management,  every  leading 
railroad  line  in  the  nation  will  be  able  to  make  a  fair  and  regular  dividend.  The 
interests  of  the  public  at  large  require  that  these  important  improvements  should 
be  encouraged  and  sustained,  and  not  depressed  or  depreciated. 


THE 

■SilfeEl  ClIlkEllIf  M  Iff  I' 

A.I>I>E3^q■I^I2s:  iTo.  s. 

Containing  as  follows,  viz: — 

Page 

I. — Appletons'  Railway  Guide,          ..-,--.  2 

II. — New  York  and  St.  Louis  Line, 3 

III. — The  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad,      -        -  4 

IV.— The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad, 6 

v.— The  Central  Ohio  Railroad, 8 

VI.— The  Little  Miami  Railroad, •  -  10 

VII. — The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad, 12 

VIIL— The  Patapsco  Institute, 14 

IX. — Barnum's  Hotel, 15 

X.— The  Eutaw  House, 16 

XL— Grafton  Railroad  Hotel, 17 

XII.— The  Tredegar  Works, 18 

XIII.— Railroad  Wheel  Works, 19 

l^     XIV.— The  Union  Works, 20 

XV. — Denmeads'  Iron  Works, 22 

XVI.— The  Iron  Railroad  Bridge, 23 

XVII.— England's  Car  Coupling, 24 

XVIIL— The  Self-Acting  Car  Brake, 25 

XIX. — The  Adams  Express  Company, 26 

XX. — The  Express  Freight  Line Patent  Agency,        -        -        -  27 

XXI. — Baltimore  Portrait  Gallery, 28 

XXII.— Baltimore  Piano  Works, 29 

XXIII.— Printing  Establishment, 30 

XXIV.— Baltimore  Trunk  Establishment, 31 

XXV. — Journal  of  Progress, 32 

XXVI— Baltimore  Marble  Works, 33 

XXVII.— Architects Clocks  and  Watches, 34 

XXVIII.— Vulcan  Works, 35 

XXIX.— Jewelry Scales New  Periodical, 36 

XXX. — Iron  Warehouse Gas  Fixtures, 37 

XXXI.— Railroad  Car  Scales, 38 

XXXII. — Maryland  Gas  Company Propeller  Line,  -        -        -        -  39 

XXXIII —Railroad  Oil,  &c. 40 


The  Railway  Celebrations  of  1857. 

glailtoag  an^  Attain  ^aHgatioit 


For  the  United  States  and  the  Canadas; 

Containing  ihe  Time  Tables,  Fares,  Connections  and  Distances  on  all  the  Railways 

of  the  United  States  and  the  Canadas;    also,  the  connecting 

Lines  of  Railways,  Steamboats  and  Stages. 

Each  Principal  Eoad  is  fully  Delineated  and  Illustrated  by  a  Separate  Map^ 

Placed  opposite  the  Description  of  that  Road;    which  Map  exhibits  the  Stations^ 
Distances  between  Stations,  Connecting  Roads,  and  other  Topo- 
graphical Matter  of  use  to  the  Traveler;  together  with 

Being  a  List  of  the  most  prominent  Mercantile  and  Manufacturing  Houses  and 
Firms  in  the  Principal    Cities,  arranged  as  a  Business   Directory.      The 
whole  accompanied  by  a  Guide  to  the  Frincipal  Hotels,  with  a  Large 
Variety  of  Local  and  Valuable  Information,  Collected,  Com- 
piled and  Arranged  Exclusively  lor  this  Publication,  by 

G.  F.  THOMAS,  EDITOE  AND   GENEHAL  TEAVELING  AGENT. 
New  Yokk:  D.  APPLETON  &  CO.,  346  and  348  Broadway, 

And  for  sale  by  all  Booksellers,  Periodical  Dealers,  News  Agents,  and  at  all  the 

Railway  Depots. 


HINTS  TO  TRAVELERS. 

[From  AppUton's  Bailwaii  Guide.] 

Travelers  goinfj  long  diBtacces  should  trace  out  their  roule  before  staning^,  and  make 
memoranda  of  places  at  which  il  is  desirable  to  make  halts.    It  will  save  much  time  and  expense. 

Tickets  should  be  procured  at  the  office  before  startmg,  as  on  nearly  all  railways  an 
additional  charge  is  made  in  the  cars.  Children  under  5  years  of  age,  accompanied  with 
parents,  usually  ride  free ;  those  between  5  and  12  are  charged  half  price.  Conductors  usually 
judge  for  themselves  of  the  age  of  children. 

Bau'gage  should  be  checked  before  starting. 

Oaalinost  all  the  trains  will  be  found  Haggage  or  Express  Agents,  who  will  take  oharge 
of  baggage  on  the  arrival  at  the  termini.  They  "are  regularly  authorized  by  the  Railway  Com- 
pauie'srand  can  be  safely  entrusted  with  its  safe  delivery. 

'J"he  ordinary  expenditure  of  a  Hallway  traveler  who  does  not  travel  through,  but  remains 
at  places  liy  liie  way,  averages  about  SK  iii'  per  day,  so  that  a  calculatiou  may  be  made  of  the 
amount  ot  iiionev  it  is  desirable  to  tate  on  a  journey. 

Hacks. — Make  a  bargain  beforebaud,  especially  in  New  York.  There  is  a  rate  fixed  by 
law,  but  a  traveler  bus  no  time  to  enter  into  litigation.  In  almost  all  cities  in  the  West,  twenty- 
five  cents  is  chars;ed  for  carrying  one  passenger  to  a  depot  or  a  hotel. 

In  using  the  Ciiiide,  il  is  well  to  consult  the  advertisements  of  those  roads  which  advertise 
with  us,  as  an  advertisement  will  often  contain  information  which  Time  Tables  alone  cannot  give. 

The  right-hand  columns  of  the  Time  'I'ables  read  up,  the  left-hand  read  down.  As  aii  ad- 
ditional aiU  to  the  Traveler,  let  liim  observe  if  the  miles  read  from  1  to  10,  20  or  more  |  he  will 
thus  be  enabled  to  understand  how  the  'i'able  runs,  whether  up  or  down. 

In  using  this  Guide,  it  is  well  to  remember  that  Railways  have  no  standard  of  time  for  the 
Union,  but  usually  run  iiy  the  lime  of  Ihe  principal  ollice  of  the  Company.  In  almost  all  hotels 
^Vest.  the  dials  of  clocks  indicate  the  railway  and  the  time  of  the  particular  locality.  To  pre- 
vent disappointment,  il  is  better  to  inquire,  ut  the  hotel,  what  particular  tinje  the  iruiu  one 
tiesires  to  travel  on,  runs  by. 


The  New  York  and  St.  Louis  Line. 


THE  GREAT  THROUGH  LINE 

From  New  York  via  Baltimore 


Is  formed  by  the  followiDg 


First  Cla-SS  Eoads: 
-New  Jersey,  and  Camden  &  Amboy, 

From  NEW  YORK  to  PHILADELPHIA— 87  miles. 


1.-] 

2.— Philadelpliia,Wilniington&  Baltimore, 

From  PHILADELPHIA  to  BALTIMORE— 98  mOes. 

3.— The  Baltimore  &  Ohio, 

875  miles  from  BALTIMORE  and  :31I6  from  WASHINGTON 
CITY  to  BEN  WOOD  JUNCTION;  (379  to  Wheelimr  Termi- 
nus,) or  383  from  BALTIMORE  to  PARKERSBURG,  on  the 
Ohio  River,  96  miles  below  Wheeling. 

4.— The  Central  Ohio, 

From  BELLAIRE  (opposite  Benwood  Junction)  to  COLUM- 
BUS—137  miles;  or  bv  MARIETTA  E GAD  from  Marietta, 
(12  miles  above  Parkersbur-,)— 200  miles  to  CINCINNATI. 

5.— The  little  Miami, 

From  COLUMBUS  to  CINCINNATI— 119  miles. 

6.— Ohio  &  Mississippi,  (Broad  Guage,) 

From  CINCINNATI  to  ST.  LOUIS— 340  miles. 

£^In  llie  following  pages  will  be  found  the  details  of  these  several  Roads,  pre- 
pared by  their  officers  respectively. 


The  Bailway  Celebrations  of  1887. 


Are  now  run  each  way  over  this  road,  in  connection  with  those  ob  the  adjoining 
sections  of  the  great 

NEW  YORK,  PHILADELPHIA,  BALTIMORE  AND  WASHINGTON 

RAILROAD  LINE— as  follows,  viz: 

o-oinsTGi-  soTJom- 

1, — Mail — leaves  Philadelphia  8  a.  m.,  (accommodating  such  New  York  Pa«- 
sengers  of  the  evening  before  as  may  have  preferred  to  stop  over  night;) 
arrives  in  Baltimore  at  1  p.  m.,  and  in  Washington  at  T)  p.  m. 

2. — New  York  and  Washington  Day  Express — leaves  New  York  at 
8  A.  M.;  leaves  Philadelphia  at  1  p.  m.;  arrives  in  Baltimore  at  4.45  p.  m., 
and  in  Washington  at  7  p.  m. — making  close  connections  at  Baltimore  and 
Washington  with  lines  for  West,  Southwest  and  South. 

8. — New  York  and  Washington  Night  Express — Leaves  New  York 
at  6  P.M.;  Philadelphia  at  11  p.m.;  arrives  in  Baltimore  at  4  A.  M.,  (con- 
necting with  Morning  Train  to  the  West;)  and  Washington  at  6  a.m. — 
making  close  connections  there  for  Southern  and  Southwestern  points. 

ooiisro  nsroiRTH. 

1. — Washington  and  New  York  Express — leaves  Washington  at  6  a.m. 

(on  arrival  of  Night  Line  from  the  South;)  leaves  Baltimore  at  S.45  a.  m.; 

arrives  in  Philadelphia  at  1  p.  m.;  arrives  in  New  York  at  6.30  p.  M. 
2, — Mail — leaves  Washington  at  8.30  a.m.;  leaves  Baltimore  at  11a.m.,  (re> 

ceiving  Western  Passengers  from  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  Night  Express;)  arrives  in 

Philadelphia  at  4  p.  M.,  and  in  New  York  at  9  p.  m. 
3. — Washington  and  New  York  Night  Mail — leaves  Washington  at 

4.[  P.M.,  (on  arrival  of  Day  Line  from  the  South;)    leaves  Baltimore  at 

6^  p.  M.;  arrives  in  Philadelphia  at  1 1  P.  m.,  and  in  New  York  at  5.30  a.  m. 


TRAIN  No.  3  EACH  WAY  RUNS  EVERY  DAY; 

THE  OTIIEES,  SUNDAYS  EXCEPTED. 
Also,  EMIGRANT  Train  leaves  Philadelphia, daily,  (Sundays  excepted,)  at  5  P.M. 


CONNECTIONS  of  P.,  W.  &  B.  R.  R. 

The  reader  is  especially  invited  to  examine  the  following  great  through  routes 
of  travel,  diverging  from  tlie  Southwestern  terminus  of  this  Koad,  by  any  Map  or 
Railway  Guide  issued  by  disinterested  parties. 


The  Philadelphia,  "Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Bailroad.     6 

1 — TO   THE  SOXJTH. 

The  Great  Southern  Mail  Line,  passing  from  Ballimore  through  Washington, 
Richmond  and  Petersburg  to  Weldon — (or,  if  preferred,  leaving  Ballimore  by  Bay 
Line  Steamers  to  Norfolk,  and  thence  by  Railroad  to  Weldon) — from  Weldon, 
through  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  Manchester,  Augusta,  Atlanta  and  West  Point  to 
Montgomery,  Alabama — and  thence  by  steamer  to  Mobile  and  New  Orleans. 

From  the  above  diverge  (among  others)  the  Northeastern  Railroad,  at  Florence, 
making  a  direct  all  Railroad  route  to  Charleston  — also,  the  Raleigh  and  Gaston 
Railroad,  at  Weldon,  making,  with  its  connection,  an  alternative  route  to  Charles- 
ton, passing  through  the  Capital  Cities  of  North  and  South  Carolina. 

From  Charleston,  regular  connections  are  made  by  fir.st  class  sea-going 
steanjers  to  Savannah,  Geo.,  and  to  HAVANA — avoiding  the  well-known  dangers 
of  Cape  Hatteras,  and  saving'  a  day's  time  and  much  sea-sickness  and  discomfort, 
as  compared  with  the  outside  sea  voyage  from  New  York. 

Savannah  maybe  reached  by  all  Railroad, via  Augusta,  and  a  direct  Railroad 
from  Charleston  lo  Savannah  is  in  progress. 

a^THROTJGH  TICKETS  TO  HAVANA,  SAVANNAH  and  CHAKLESTON, 
by  this  Line,  for  sale  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia. 

S — TO    THCE    SOXJTH"^;VEST. 

The  line  formed  by  the  A'^irginia  and  Tennessee  R.  R.  and  connections — diverging 
from  the  great  Southern  Line  at  Richmond — passing  thence  through  Lynch- 
burg, Va.,  Knoxville  and  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Decatur  and  Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  to 
Memphis,  Tenn. — connecting  at  Chattanooga  with  Western  and  Atlantic  R.  R.  for 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  Montgomery,  Ala.;  also  at  Stevenson  with  the  Nashville  and 
Chattanooga  R.  R.  to  Nashville  ;  and  at  Memphis  with  the  innumerable  steamers 
of  the  Lower  Mississippi,  the  Arkansas  and  Red  Rivers,  for  New  Orleans  and  all 
points  in  Mississippi,  Arkansas,  Louisiana  and  Texas. 

The  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad  having  less  than  100  miles  of  track  to  lay  to  its 
intersection  with  the  above,  will  soon  alford  an  all  Railroad  route  to  Mobile ;  and 
the  N.  O.,  Jackson  and  Great  Northern  and  Mississippi  Central  R.  R.  have  less 
than  200  miles  of  track  to  lay  to  com|)lele  the  long  desired  all  K.  R.  route  to  JV.  O. 

3 — TO  THE  -WEST. 
The  Great  East  and  West  Line — Ibrmed  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  N.  W. 
Virginia,  Marietta  and  Cincinnati,  and  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroads — extending 
from  Baltimore,  through  Parkersbiirg,  Marietta,  Chillicothe,  Cincinnati,  Seymour, 
Vincennes  and  Sandoval  to  St.  Louis,  and  thence  to  Jefferson  City.  Connecting 
at  Hamden  with  Railroad  to  Portsmouth;  at  Cincinnati  with  the  Indianapolis  and 
Cincinnati  R.  R.,  for  Indianapolis,  Terre  Haute,  Chicago  and  the  Northwest — and 
with  the  Kentucky  railways;  at  Seymour  with  the  Jellersonville  Railroad,  forming 
SlU  all  railroad  route  lo  Louisville;  at  Vincennes  \vith  Railroad  to  Evansville;  and 
at  Sandoval  with  the  Illinois  Central  R.  R.  to  Cairo,  all  points  in  Central,  Southern 
and  Western  Illinois,  Galena,  Dunleith  and  Uubuciue.  And  connecting,  either  at 
Parkersburg,  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  Evansville,  Cairo,  St.  Louis  or  Dunleith,  with 
Steamerson  the  Ohio,  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Rivers,  to  all  points  above  and  below. 

Cincinnati,  and  all  jjoints  Westward  on  the  above  route,  may  also  be  reached  via 
Wheeling  (Benwood.)  the  Central  Ohio, and  Cincinnati, Wilmington  and  Zanesville 
Railroads — or  by  Central  Ohio  and  Little  Miami  Railroads  via  Columbus. 

Or  passengers  for  Indianapolis,  Terre  Haute,  St.  Louis  or  Chicago,  who  do  not 
care  to  pass  through  Cincinnati,  find  a  direct  route  open  lo  them  from  Columbus 
Westward,  via  Dayton,  Ohio. 

At  Wheeling,  the  Cleveland  and  Pittsburg  Railroad  also  connects  for  Cleveland, 
and  via  Cleveland  to  Toledo  and  Chicago. 

THROUGH  TICKETS— BOTH   FIRST  CLASS  AND   EMIGRANT, 
Can  be  obtained  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia  to  all  prominent  Western  and  Northwestern 

points  by  this  roule — and  to  most  Southern  and  Southwestern  points  by  thit  route  otxly. 

E.  Q.  SEWELL,  Jr.,  GenU  Ticket  Agt.  P.,  VV.  (f  B.  R.  R. 

Ticket  Officta  in  NewYorl: — 229  Broadway,  and  at  New  Jersey  R.  R.  Station. 

In  Plnladelphia — N.W.  cor.  6th  &  Chesnut  Sts.,  and  at  Depot,  Broad  &  Prime  Sts. 


The  Railway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


CONNECTING 

A.LIL.   I^A.RTS    OF    THE    EA.ST 

■WITH 

ALL  PARTS  OF  THE  WEST, 

AND 
BETWEEN 

NEW  YORK,  PHILADELPHIA,  BALTIMORE  &  WASHINGTON, 

AND 

COLUMBUS,  CINCINNATI,  LOUISVILLE, 

DAYTON,  INDIANAPOLIS,  ST.  LOUIS, 

CAIRO,  MEMPHIS  and  NEW  ORLEANS. 


J|@*This  Great  Railroad  is  located  nearly  upon  the  line  formerly 
traveled  by  the  National  Road,  running  between  the  Cities  of 
WASHINGTON  and  BALTIMORE  and  the  Commercial  Cities 
of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Valleys. 


For  the  Western  Cities,  and 

B^GaA.&E    CHECKS, 

By  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  and  its  various  Connecting  Lines, 

may  be  had  at 

tyEW  YORK,  PHILADELPHIA,  BALTIMORE  &  WASHINGTON. 


In  any  quantity,  will  be  carried  by  Through  Receipt,  in  the  Quickest 
Time,  and  at  the  Lowest  Rates. 

SS'For  Pa7-ticulars,  see  News'paper  AdrertiseTnents  and  Handbills. 


The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Bailroad. 

OF   THE 


mltmk 


This  Road,  very  property  called  "THE  GREAT  NATIONAL  ROUTE,  between  the  East 
and  West,''  possesses  numerous  advantages  and  attractions  that  should  address  themselves 
with  force  to  the  traveler,  or  to  the  business  man.  Among  them,  the  following  are  briefly 
presented  to  public  notice. 

1st. — The  '•  q-eographical  position"'  of  Baltimore  (its  chief  Eastern  terminus)  is  such  that  it 
is  the  NEAREST  TO  THE  WEST  of  any  of  the  great  Atlantic  Cities. 

2d. — This  fact, — united  vcith  the  fact  that  the  great  Northern  East-and-West-Lines  are  so 
circuitously  located. — makes  New  York  from  20  to  50  miles  nearer  to  the  Central  and  Southern 
Cities  of  the  West  THROUGH  BALTIMORE,  than  by  its  own  roads  via  the  Lakes. 

3d. — This  fact,  with  the  use  of  the  North- Western  Virginia  Road,  (from  Grafton  on  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  100  miles  East  of  Wheeling,  to  Parkersburg  on  the  Ohio  100 miles 
below  Wheeling,)  brings  PHILADELPHIA  nearer  to  Cincinnati  and  the  Southwest,  by  the 
Eallimore  and  Ohio  Road,  than  by  the  Pennsylvania  improvements. 

4th. — The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  is  the  only  road  that  sells  or  can  sell  Through  Tickets  in 
Boston,  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  to  all  parts  of  the  West  through  Baltimore,  or  with  the 
privilege  of  visiting  Washington  on  the  route. 

5th. — No  other  road  issues  Through  baggage  Checks,  or  can  sell  Through  Tickets  at  Wash- 
ington, Richmond,  &c.  for  any  part  of  the  West. 

6th. — The  connections  of  this  road  at  Washington  Junction  (9  miles  from  Baltimore,)  with 
its  well  known  branch  road  to  Washinjrton  and  all  parts  of  the  South ;  and  in  the  streets  of 
Baltimore,  without  expense,  delay  or  inconvenience,  with  cars  for  Philadelphia,  New  Y'ork 
and  Boston,  are  the  most  complete  and  satisfactory  in  all  respects. 

7th.— The  junction  of  this  road  in  the  West  at  WHEELING,  at  BENWOOD,  and  at 
PARKERSBURG,  (100  miles  below  Wheeling.)  with  the  several  lines  converging  there, 
thoroughly  ^initts  it  u-ith  the  entire  railroad  systtm  in  the  West,  whose  lines  range  from  New 
■Orleans  on  the  South  to  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  on  the  North. 

8th.— It  is  the  only  route  by  which  THROUGH  TICKETS  OR  BAGGAGE  CHECKS  TO 
WASHINGTON  CITY,  can  be  had  in  the  West. 

9th. — It  is  tlie  shortest  in  distance,  and  in  time — the  most  direct,  and  in  otlier  respects  the 
most  reliable  route  from  the  West  to  Washington  and  to  Baltimore. 

10th— It  is  the  only  route  by  which  holders  of  Through  Tickets  FROM  THE  WEST  to  New 
York  City,  are  enabled  to  visit  the  Cities  of  Baltimore,  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  at  the 

COST  OF  A  TICKET  TO  NEW  YORK  ONLY. 

11th. — By  these  facilities,  the  traveler  for  pleasure  or  the  merchant  desiring  to  take  the 
range  of  the  Eastern  markets,  may  fully  visit  four  of  the  chief  cities  of  the  Union,  upon  the  same 
Ticket,  and  at  a  less  cost  than  can  be  allowed  by  any  other  route,  and  without  personal  incon- 
venience. 

12th. — The  SAFETY  of  this  line  is  a  strong  feature  in  its  claims  to  public  support.  Witli 
the  exception  of  one  occasion  in  March  1S5.3,  (when  the  road  was  first  opened  to  the  Ohio  River,) 
no  accident  to  the  trains  has  occurred  on  the  roads  of  this  Company,  by  which  a  passenger  has 
been  killed  or  seriously  injured. 

13th. — The  carefulness  of  the  Conductors  and  road  men  generally  upon  this  line,  is  pro- 
verbial, ns  well  as  their  prompt  and  constant  attention  to  the  wants  and  the  convenience  of 
their  passengers. 

14ih. — The  attractions  and  comforts  of  this  road  as  a  passenger  line  have  recently  been  much 
improved  by  the  erection  of  New  and  Superior  Hotels  and  Dimng  Haixs,  at  several  stations, 
and  also  by  running  the  Conductors  and  Baggage  Masters  througli,  over  the  entire  road,  thus 
saving  annoyance  to  Passengers. 

15th. — The  regularity,  speed  and  safety  of  the  Trains  upon  this  road  are  much  improved 
by  THE  NE^v  AND  COMPLETE  TELEGRAPH  LINE  erected  by  the  Company  for  its  own  use ;  by  the 
WEW  SYSTEM  OF  NIGHT  AND  DAT  WATCHING  along  the  road,  and  by  the  extension  of  its  double 
track, — all  of  which  tend  directly  to  secure  the  most  perfect  working  of  the  trains. 

16th.— The  GRANDEUR  AND  REAL  SUBLIMITY  OF  THE  "SCENERY  upon  the  Balti- 
more and  Ohio  Railroad  is  becoming  more  and  more  recognized.  It  undeniably  presents  the 
BOLDEST  AND  MOST  STPPENDOus  %aEvvs  IN  NATURE  to  be  seen  upon  any  line  of  Railway  improve- 
ment in  the  Union.  The  Potomac  scenery  is  already  historical,  while  that  farther  West  along 
the  Piedmont  grade — and  in  the  Cheat  River  region,  is  picturesquely  sublime  beyond  description. 


The  Railway  Celebrations  of  1857. 

OUt^^  East  "and  West,   ^tt 

©EiTiAL  Bum 


A  Short  and  Direct  Route 

BETWEEN 


efo  mk  ftflston, 


ta, 


BALTIMORE,  WASHINGTON, 

And  All  Eastern  Cities, 


AND 


CINCINNATI,  LOUISVILLE,  DAYTON, 

INDIANAPOLIS,  ST.  LOUIS, 

CAIRO,  KANSAS,  NEBRASKA  and 


B. 


AND  ALL  POtNTS  SOUTH  AKO  WEST. 


^ 


The  Central  Ohio  Railroad. 

This  Road  connects  at  BELLAIRE,  opposite  Benwood,  (4  miles 
below  Wheeling,)  with  the 

BALTIMORE  AND  OHIO, 

AND    THE 

WHEELING  d)  PITTSBURG  RAILROADS, 
For  All  Points  East. 

B^*At  ZANESVILLE,  with  the 

CINCINNATI,  WILMINGTON  AND  ZANESVILLE  RAILROAD, 

For  Lancaster,  CircleviUe,  Washington,  &c. 

J8®»At  NEWARK,  with  the 

Sandusky,  Mansfield  and  Newark  R.  R. 

FOR 

Mt.  Vernon,  Mansfield,  Sandusky,  Toledo,  Detroit,  Chicago,  &c. 
Jl^-At  COLUMBUS,  with 

COLUMBUS,  PiaUA  AND  INDIANA  RAILROADS, 

For  Indianapolis,  Cincinnati,  St.  Louis,  Cairo  and 

BE^-ALL  POINTS  SOOTH  AliB  WEST.'^^ir 


Passengers  taking  the  Express  Train  will  have 

NO  CHANGE  OF  CARS  BETWEEN  WHEELING  &  CINCINNATI 

Ask  for  Tickets  via  Wheeling  (or  Bellaire)  and  Columbus. 


6nat  %kt\  anir  Jfrtigljt  %u[l 

Shippers  will  find  it  to  their  interest  to  take  this  route.  Through 
Bills  of  Lading  given  to  all  Eastern  Cities,  at  as  low  rates  as  any  other 
Railroad  route,  and  all  Freight  transported  with 

H.  J.  JEWETT,  Pres't, 

Zanesville,  Ohio. 
D.  S.  GRAY,  JNO.  W.  BROWN, 

G£^'L  Freight  Agent,  Gen'l  Ticket  Agent, 

Columbus,  Ohio.  Columbus,  Ohio, 


10  The  Eailway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


Jul£ 


AND 


Ell  fits 


CINCIMNATI  TO  COLUMBUS. 


DIRECT  CONNECTIONS  ARE  MADE  VIA 

WHEELING-  '^^^^  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad, 

•  ■   AAJUJLJAJAA^  \Ji  j^j.  Baltimore,  Washington  City,  Riclimond,  Phila- 

delphia, New  York  and  lioston. 

With  Pennsylvania  Central  R.  R.  at  Pittsburg, 

for  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  York  and  Boston. 

PT  PVPT  A  "KTTI  ^ith  Lake  Shore,  New  York  &  Erie  and 
yjlAlU  Y  JCa±j£^X%  U  jjg,^  York  Central  Railroads, 

for  Dunkirk,  Buffalo,  Albany,  New  York  and  Boston. 

QT'T?TT"R17*KrUTT  T  T?  ^^^^  Pennsylvania  Central  R.  R. 

lO  JL  J-i  U  iUjjXl    Y  JL  J4  JJJLJ  at  Pittsburg,   for  Harrisburg,  Baltimore, 

Pliiladelphia,  New  York  and  Boston. 

PT?  "R^TT  T'W'S'  "^^^^  Pennsylvania  Central  R.  R.  at  Pitts- 

V/£vJ^Q  JL  JjJLXl  JLd      burg,  for  Harrisburg,  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  York 

and  Boston. 

with  Mad  River  &  Lake  Erie  R.  R. 

for  Sandusky,  Toledo,  Detroit  and  Chicago. 


TO  CLEVELAND,  WHEELING  AND  PITTSBURG 
WITHOUT  CHANGE  of  CARS 

THROUGH  TICKETS 

For  sale  at  all  the  principal  Railroad  Offices  in  the  West. 

J.  DXJRAND,  Superintendent. 
E.  F,  PULLER,  Gen'l  Ticket  Agt, 


The  Little  Miami  Bailroad.  'it 


tmit  mmt 


AND 


Wr, 


OOIiTJISVCBXJS     TO     OIlSTCinSTlSr-A-TI. 


»^-PA$$E«GEnS  FHOM  THE  EA$T,^^ 

Via  BALTIMORE  &  OHIO, 

PENNSYL  VANIA  CENTRAL, 

NEW  YORK  CENTRAL,  and 

NEW  YORK  &  ERIE  RAILROADS, 

Make  Direct  Connections,  via  Columbus, 

With  the  Dayton,  Xenia  &  Indianapolis  Hailroad,  for  Dayton, 
Indianapolis,  Lafayette.  Teiie  Haute,  Chicago,  Burlington,  Iowa  City 
and  St.  Louis. 

With  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Eailroad,  for  Louisville,  Evansville, 

Cairo,  St.  Louis,  Jefferson  City,  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  New  Orleans. 
With  the  Kentucky  Central  Railroad,  for  Lexington,  Danville, 

Mammoth  Cave  and  Louisville. 

With  the  Indianapolis  &  Cincinnati  Hailroad,  for  Indianapolis, 

Lafayette  and  Chicago. 

With  United  States  Mail  Line  Steamers,  for  Louisville,  Cairo, 
St.  Louis  and  New  Orleans. 


FROM  WHEELING,  CLEVELAND  AND  PITTSBURG  TO  CINCINNATI 


■^'THROUGH  TICKETS  for  sale  at  all  the  principal  Railroad  Offices  in  the 
E.ivsT,  as  well  as  at  all  points  in  the  Southwest  and  West,  beyond  Cincinnati. 

E.  F.  PULLER,  J.  DURAND, 

GeiiH  Ticket  Agent.  Snperintenileni. 


12  The  Railway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


CINCINNATI  AND  ST.  LOUIS. 

THROUGH  WITHOUT  CHANGE  OF  CABS. 


<^^^^      BROAD  GUAGE  RAILROAD,      ^4 

(^#^W^  FOB 

Louisville,  Vincennes,  Evansville,  Cairo, 

AND 

ST.   LOUIS, 

Connecting  at  St.  Louis  with  PACIFIC  RAILROAD  and  Missouri  River  Packets, 

for  all  points  in 

KANSAS  AND   NEBRASKA, 

Connecting  at  St  Louis  with   KEOKUK   PACKET  COMPANY,  and  at  ST. 
LOUIS  and  CAIRO,  with  Steamers  for 


|r0ob  ilBnoge  5al00n  (ILora  CI)raag^  from  dTinnnnati  tn  $1  f nuts 

WITHOUT  CHANGE. 

(Diw  ©HIE  mmm  m  imi 

Setween  Cincinnati  and  Louisville,  Evansville  or  Cairo. 


The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Bailroad.  13 

The  attention  of  persons  emigrating  West,  is  called  to  the  fine 

)a/y>'ui«A9  <^lamA\  LtiWu^  VSA/YUAMiwau)  ft)  [Ws 


Hickory,  Black  and  White  Walnut,  Butternut,  Sugar  Maple,  Poplar,  Oak  and 
Beech  abound.     To  those  who  prefer 

I>IIA.IIIIE   LA.NDS 

Of  a  superior  quality,  and  at  favorable  rates,  a  fine  opportunity  is  offered  for 
selection  between  Vil^CE.VNES  and  ST.  LOUIS,  with  all  the  benefits  of  a  mild 
climate.     Farmerc  on  the  Line  of  this  Road  have  the  advantage  of  the 

TWO  iBEAT  WEiTlRI^  MARKETS, 

CINCINNATI  and  ST.  LOUIS. 


Traina  Leave  CINCINNATI  in  connection  with  Trains  from  all  Eastern  Eoads. 

THROUGH  FROM  CINCINNATI  TO  ST.  LOUIS 
W  ITHOXJT    OlI-A.3Srca-E    OF    0-A.ItS. 


ONE  TRAIN  ON  SUNDAY, 

Through  from  Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis  without  Change. 


THROUGH  TICKETS 

Via  Cincinnati  and  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Bailroad,  to  the  West  and  South, 

Can  be  procured  at  all  the  Eastern  Railroad  Ticket  Offices,  and  at  all  principal 
Stations  on  Roads  East  of  Cincinnati.  Passengers  having  Through  Tickets  from 
other  Roads,  are  taken  direct  to  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Depot  in  Cincinnati, 
WITHOUT  EXTRA  CHARGE. 

FOR  THROUGH  TICKETS,  and  all  information  at  Cincinnati,  please 
apply  at  the  Offices,  No.  2,  Burnet  House  ;  Union  Office,  Southeast  corner  of 
Front  and  Broadway,  opposite  the  Spencer  House ;  and  at  Depot  of  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Railroad,  corner  of  Front  and  Mill  Streets. 

ISAAC  WTMAW,  P.  W.  STRADEB, 

Gen'l  Western  Jgcnt,  St.  Louis.  GenH  Ticket  Jlgent,  Cincinnati. 

W.  H.  CLEMENT,  Gen'l  Supt. 


14  The  Hallway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


PATAPSCO  FEMALE  INSTITUTE,  Maryland. 


The  Trustees  of  the  Patapsco  Female  Institute  announce  to  the  public  that  the 
additional  buildings  and  improvements  commenced  byihem  a  year  ago,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  subjoined  resolutions,  are  now  complete.  The^^e  improvcmenis 
have  not  been  made  with  a  view  to  increase  the  school,  but  for  the  greater  con- 
venience and  comfort  of  the  usual  number  of  pupils. 

The  new  chapelisa  handsome  and  most  appropriate  structure,  for  the  exclusive 
use  of  the  inmates  of  the  Institute,  and  in  all  its  arrangements  it  is  most  complete. 
It  is  furnished  with  a  new  organ  of  fine  construction  and  excellent  tone. 

The  administration  of  Mr.  Archer  for  the  past  year  and  the  present  has  been 
attended  with  unprecedented  success,  and  the  Trustees  feel  themselves  fully  justi- 
fied in  recommending  the  Institute  to  the  continued  favor  of  the  South, 
r  ~  It  has  pre-eminence  in  healthfulness.  The  pupils,  avoiding,  on  the  one  hand, 
the  debilitating  efiects  of  a  Southern  climate,  and  on  the  other  the  rigors  of  the 
North,  have  few  of  the  interruptions  incident  to  both  these  climates. 

It  is  sufficiently  near  to  the  city  of  Baltimore  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  a  city 
without  any  of  its  evils. 

As  an  Institution  of  learning  it  has  the  advantage  of  a  full  organization,  a 
resident  chaplain,  and  a  corps  of  ac^complished  teachers  and  professors,  called 
together  from  lime  to  time  in  the  long  experience  of  those  having  charge  of  the 
Institute. 

The  Trustees  of  the  Patapsco  Female  Institute,  having  been  duly  notified  by 
Mrs.  Lincoln  Phelps  of  her  intention  to  resign  her  office  of  principal  at  the  close 
of  the  present  school  year,  have  elected  Robert  H.  Akchkr,  Esq.,  as  her  successor. 
The  eminent  success  of  Mr.  Archer  in  conducting  for  many  years  a  School  for 
Young  Ladies  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  entitles  him  to  our  confidence  as  a  person 
peculiarly  qualified  to  maintain  the  present  high  standing  and  insure  the  perma- 
nent prosperity  of  the  Institution  ;  and  with  this  view  we  Rre  engaged  in  the 
erection  of  another  building  iu  addition  to  the  present  extensive  accommodations 
of  the  Institute. 

CEAS.  W.  DORSET,  President. 
WM.  DENNY,  M.  D.,  Secretary. 
T.  WATZINS  LIGOy,  E.  HAMMOND,  JOHN  P.  KENNEDY. 


Barnum's  City  Hotel. 


16 


BARNUM'S 


Monument  Square, 


This  Hotel  is  one  of  the  largest,  most  comfortable  and  convenient  establish- 
ments in  the  United  States.  It  is  situated  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  on  Monument 
fc>(iuare.  Within  the  past  year  it  has  undergone  vast  improvements  and  embel- 
lishments, and  is  now  capable  of  accommodating  six  hundred  guests.  The 
arrangements  for  Families  are  unsurpassed.  It  has  always  sustained  a  high 
character,  and  is  now  complete  in  all  its  apartments,  with  New  Furniture  and 
Equipments,  where  the  traveler  can  enjoy  all  the  comforts  of  a  well-regulated 
establishment. 

ZENUS  BARNUM,  ] 

AlfDREW  McLAUGHLIIT,  j"  ^^oP^^^tors. 


16 


The  Bailway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


BALTIMORE. 


The  EuTAW  House  having  been  thoroughly  renewed,  altered,  and  elegantly 
refurnished,  possessing  all  the  modern  improvements  of 

is  novr  ready  to  accommodate  the  Public  in  a  style  unsurpassed  by  any  First 
Class  Hotel  in  the  country. 

The  especial  attention  of  Gentlemen,  traveling  with  Ladies  and  Families,  is 
called  to  the  superior  arrangements  of  this  House.  Its  spacious  and  lofty  apart- 
ments, arranged  in  full  and  convenient  suites  of  Parlors,  Chambers,  etc.,  present 
most  attractive  and  desirable  accommodations. 

The  sumptuousness  and  excellence  of  its  Table,  and  general  appointments, 
shall  continue  of  the  highest  grade. 

It  is  eligibly  situated,  for  either  Business  or  Pleasure  Travelers,  in  a  most 
elevated  and  healthful  location,  at  the 

Corner  of  Baltimore  and  Eutaw  Streets, 

a  few  squares  from  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Stations  from  Washington 
City  and  the  great  West. 

Coaches  and  Porters  attend  upon  all  the  Railroad  Trains  and  Steamers  for  th« 
conveyance  of  Guests  and  their  Baggage. 

No  pains  will  be  spared  to  make  the  EUTAW  the  elegant  and  comfortable 
home  of  its  Guests. 

JOHN  CARROLL,  Proprietor. 


Grand  Railroad  Mountain  Hotel  at  Grafton.  17 


Idu  §XM^  lailroiiir 


C' 


Travelers  between  the  East  and  West,  by 

THE  MiTllORE  &  ©Hi©  B©iTE, 

Either  by  Benwootl,  Wheeling  or  Parkersburg,  will  find  a  splendid  stopping  place 

at  the 


THE    ISTE^^TST    TIA.XTL,TLOjA.J:>    HOTEL. 

(See  page  1G3  of  the  "Book  of  the  Great  Railway  Celebkations  of  1857")  at 
this  place  is  most  eligibly  situated.  Grafton  itsell"  is  a  beautiful  town,  located  at 
the  forks  of  the  Great  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Road,  on  tiie  banks  of  the  Tygart's 
Valley  River, 279^ miles  from  Baltimore,  100  from  Wheeling,  and  104  from  Parkers- 
burg,  and  consequently  at  all  times  easily  accessible  from  all  parts  of  the  country. 


(^//lO 


moad 


aUioacl  ^JeleciXa  ih 


^Iflce, 


Connecting  with  all  the  Lines  East  and  West,  is  situated  in  the  Hotel,  and  the 
Mail  and  Express  Trains,  in  both  directions,  are  constantly  arriving  and  departing- 

FOR  sum:mer  sojourners. 

This  is  an  admirable  place,  presenting  every  attraction  of  Scenery,  Climate  and 
Home  Comfort  that  the  beautiful  region,  the  mountain  air,  and  the  attentive  care 
of  the  Proprietors  can  afford. 


«^ALL  THE  THROUGH  PASSENGER  TRAINS  STOP  FOR  MEALS 

At  this  Hotel,  in  both  directions;  and  the  traveler  will  never  forget  the  air  of 
cleanliness,  order,  and  the  solid  and  satisfying  cheer  that  will  greet  him  at  the 
Grafton  Hotel. 


18  The  Railway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


TREDEGAR  IRON  WORKS 


RICHMOND^  VmCINIA, 
JOSEPH  B.  ANDERSON,  Fbofbietob. 

This  Old  Establishment  is  prepared  to  Execute  Orders  for 

Marine,  Locomotive  and  Stationary 


And  all  kinds  of 


Hailroaii  anlt  |ri!ige 


CHAIBS  AND  TASTENINGS,  BOLTS  AITD  NTTTS,  &c. 

We  invite  the  especial  attention  of  those  in  want  of  HEAVY  CASTINGS,  as 
our  experience  and  success  in  casting  heavy  Ordnance,  Shafts,  Cylinders,  &c., 
gives  us  great  advantage  in  that  line — both  in  our  knowledge  and  command  of 
the  strongest  iron,  and  in  the  treatment  of  it  in  our  furnaces. 

RAILROAD  WHEELS.— Having  fitted  up  a  Foundry  for  this  business  exclu- 
sively, we  are  making  Wheels  equal  to  any  others,  in  every  respect ;  and  we  are 
prepared  to  furnish  them,  with  or  without  axles,  on  as  good  terms  as  any  other 
establishment  for  an  equal  article. 

IRON  TRUCKS  FOR  CARS.— We  wouWalso  invite  the  attention  of  Rail- 
road Companies  to  our  IRON  TRUCKS,  which  we  think  they  will  find  worthy 
of  their  approval  and  adoption. 

THE  ROLLING  MILLS  AND  SPIKE  FACTORY,  formerly  connected  with 
this  establishment,  are  now  worked  by  the  Proprietor  in  connection  with  other 
parties,  under  the  firm  of  Morriss  Tanner  &  Co.;  but  we  will  be  happy  to 
take  orders  for  AXLES,  BRIDGE  BOLTS,  or  any  other  kind  of  Iron  made  in 
that  Branch  of  the  Establishment,  and  when  desired  fit  up  the  same  to  order. 

We  beg  leave  to  refer  for  the  quality  of  our  work,  to  various  Railroad  Compa- 
nies throughout  the  Southern  States,  and  Sugar  Planters  in  Louisiana;,  to  the 
Officers  of  the  United  States  Navy  who  superintended  the  construction  of  the 
Roanoke  and  Colorado — two  of  the  largest  class  Steam  Frigates — the  machinery 
for  which  was  constructed  at  these  works,  and  to  the  Ordnance  Departments  of 
the  Army  and  Navy. 

Apply  to  the  Proprietor,  or  to  the  Subscriber, 

F.  T.  GLASGOW,  Superintendent. 


G.  G.  LOBDELL. 


Bailroad  Wheel  Works. 

H.  S.  McCOMB. 


19 

B.  P.  BUSH- 


Wilmington,  Delaware, 

[anufactartrs  of 


i 


FOR 


liailroali  Cars  anb  f 0C0tn0tiiie  (Engines, 

Are  prepared  to 

EXECUTE  PROMPTLY  ORDERS  TO  ANY  EXTENT, 


FOR 


Their  Celebrated  Wheels, 

Either  Single  or  Double  Plate, 

•WITH    OPt    -WITHOTJT    .A-IXILES. 


tS-WHEELS  FITTED  TO  HAMMERED  OR  ROLLED  AXLES 

In  tte  Best  Manner,  at  the  Shortest  Notice,  and 
ON  THE  MOST  JREASONABLE  TERMS. 


20 


The  Union  Works. 


21 


22  The  Kailway  Celebrations  of  1857. 

^  f0C0mattk  ^ 

ba.i.tim:oiie,  md. 

Are  prepared  at  their  Works  to  fill,  at  short  notice,  of  best  material 
and  workmanship,  orders  for 

tOOOMOTtVE  Il^atWES 

Of  any  weight  or  dimensions   required,  for   burning  either   Coal  or 
Wood,  and  especially  designed  for  the  Koad  on  which  they  are  used. 

Of  all  siees,  with  Boilers  made  only  of  Best  Charcoal  Iron. 

SINGLE  AND  DOUBLE  PLATE  AND  SPOKE  CAR  WHEELS 

-A^ItTID     CHCILLEID     TIRES, 

Warranted  equal  to  any  made  elsewhere,  and  fitted  to  Axles  of  Best 
Hammered  or  Rolled  Iron. 

Machinery  op  Most  Approved  Kind,  for  Anthracite  and  other 
Blast  Furnaces,  Sugar,  Flour,  Saw  and  Rolling  Mills. 

Judson's  Patent  Valves,  for  Regulating  Speed  of  Engines. 

Ashcroet's  Steam  and  Vacuuji  Guages. 

Worthington's  Patent  Steam  Pump,  to  throw  from  10  to  600 
gallons  of  water  per  minute. 


BoUman's  Patent  Iron  Bailroad  Bridge.  23 

WENDEL  BOLLMAN.  J.  H.  TEGMEYER.  JAMES  CLARK. 

BOLLMAN'S 

PATENT 


The  undersigned  are  prepared  to  execute  orders  for  Bollman's  Patent 
Iron  Railroad  Bridge,  and  to  furnish  Drawings,  Estimates,  &c.,  &c.,  for 

BRIDGES,  ROOFS,  ENGINE  HOUSES,  MACHINE  SHOPS,  &C. 

Or  to  contract  for  the  erection  of  the  same,  in  any  part  of  the  United 
States  or  abroad,  with  promptness  and  upon  satisfactory  terms. 
Address 

W.  BOLLMAN  &  CO.,  Baltimore,  Md. 


Among  other  references,  may  be  named  the  following  gentlemen :- 
\VM.  PARKER,  Esq.,  Civil  Emri'icei;  Boston. 
WM.  J.  McALPINE,  Esq.,  Civfl  Engineer,  Albany,  N.  Y. 
ISAAC    R.  TRIMBLE,  Esij.,  Civil  Engineer,  Baltimore. 
Capt.  M.  C.  MEIGS,  U.  S.  Engineer  Corps,  Washington. 
Col.  CROZET,  Civil  EHgineer,  Washington. 
HERMAN   HAUPT,  Esq.,  Civil  Engiiieer,  Philadelphia. 


24  The  Railway  Celebrations  of  1857. 

E'N'GLA.ISrD'S 

$[IF-ACTIIIG  U\[m  m  COOPLIHG. 

Patented  December  4th,  1856. 

This  invention  consists  in  supporting  the  coupling  pin  or  bolt  with  a  free  rolling  ball,  which 
rests  under  the  end  of  it,  and  is  pushed  backwards  and  upwards  by  the  entering  link  or  coupler, 
and  the  bolt  let  fall  into  its  proper  place,  thus  uniting  the  couplers.  The  coupler  is  held  in  a 
horizontal  position  by  the  ball  resting  on  the  end  of  it  within  the  bumper,  and  is  always  ready 
for  coupling.  After  the  coupling  is  effected,  the  ball  rests  on  the  end  of  the  coupler  or  link,  thus 
holding  it  against  the  coupling  pin  and  the  floor  of  the  bumper,  greatly  strengthening  the  pin 
while  pulling,  and  correcting  that  tendency  it  has  to  jump  out  while  the  train  is  in  motion. 

It  is  the  ordinary  form  of  bumper  invested  with  a  new  principle,  and  it  may  be  applied  to  any 
cars  in  use,  with  equal  facility,  and  as  economically  as  the  ordinary  coupling, — in  fact,  its  cost 
is  only  the  price  of  the  casting,  and  fastening  it  to  the  car.  Its  simplicity  and  economy  go  far 
to  recommend  it ;  but  when  its  safety,  certainty,  and  utility  are  considered,  every  thing  appears 
to  be  attained  by  it. 

Various  modes  of  self-coupling  have  been  invented  and  tried,  but  none  have  been  adopted 
to  any  extent  by  railroads.  They  have  been  constructed  with  springs,  latches,  hooks,  pivots, 
&c.,  which  are  always  liable  to  rust,  and  get  out  of  order,  by  which  they  are  rendered  defec- 
tive, uncertain,  and  useless.  This  coupling  is  liable  to  none  of  these  accidents — the  ball,  which 
is  the  only  device  and  movable  part  to  accomplish  the  end  in  view,  is  absolutely  indestructible 
by  ordinary  wear  and  tear;  and  nothing  short  of  a  violent  concussion,  which  destroys  the 
bumper  itself,  can  prevent  it  operating. 

Among  many  advantages  which  this  coupling  has,  are, — 

Great  economy  of  titne,  in  making  up  long  trains  of  burden  cars,  which  may  all  be  coupled 
at  once  by  simply  backing  the  locomotive,  and  it  is  particalarly  applicable  to  roads  doing  a 
heavy  transportation  of  coal  or  merchandise ;  great  economy  in  saving  the  injury  done  to  heavy 
locomotives  by  frequently  reversing  them,  by  missing  the  connection  when  coupling  in  the 
ordinary  way ;  and  it  is  cheaper  than  any  other  coupling  in  use — costing  but  the  price  of  the 
casting,  which,  owing  to  its  peculiar  form  with  ribs  and  arches,  has  increased  strength,  with 
less  weight  of  metal. 

Certainty  of  Coupling — By  backing  the  car  it  must  couple  without  fail ;  and  on  a  curve  or  from 
a  switch  as  well  as  a  straight  track ;  as  the  pin  and  coupler  are  always  held  in  a  proper  position 
by  the  balls;  and  when  the  cars  are  brought  together  they  operAte  of  themselves. 

Adaptability — It  may  be  adjusted  so  as  to  be  applied  to  any  ca.TS,  and  can  be  coupled  with  the 
ordinary  coupling  in  use,  which  is  of  great  consideration,  as  it  can  for  this  reason  be  applied 
gradually,  when  old  bumpers  are  accidentally  destroyed,  or  new  cars  built,  without  causing 
any  loss  by  unnecessarily  taking  oflfthe  old  couplings  to  make  room  for  its  adoption. 

Durability — Tt  can  never  get  out  of  order  or  tvear  out, — nothing  but  its  destruction  can  render  it 
inoperative.  This  must  be  at  once  seen  by  every  practical  minded  man,  and  its  importance 
have  proper  weight. 

So/ell/— It  dispenses  with  the  necessity  of  an  attendant  to  go  in  between  the  cars  to  hold  up 
the  pin  and  enter  the  coupler  while  the  locomotive  is  backing,  which  is  always  attended  with 
great  personal  danger  and  many  serious  accidents.  This  must  be  appreciated  by  every  friend 
of  humanity,  and  it  was  in  consequence  of  witnessing  many  distressing  accidents  to  the  men 
when  coupling  by  the  ordinary  mode,  during  the  course  of  many  years'  observation  in  the  service 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  that  I  became  impressed  with  the  necessity  of 
something  being  provided  to  save  them  from  these  contingencies.  This  coupling  seems  fully  to 
have  effected  my  object. 

Besides  other  roads  which  have  already  adopted  it,  it  is  being  put  on  the  cars  of  the  Baltimora 
and  Ohio  Railroad,  where  I  have  a  constant  opportunity  of  observing  its  working.  It  fully 
answers  all  that  is  here  said  of  it,  and  realizes  my  most  sanguine  expectations.  Although  but 
recently  introduced,  it  has  met  with  tlie  approval  of  many  Railroad  officers,  and  the  following 
named,  among  others,  can  be  referred  to  for  their  opinion  in  regard  to  it: — 

W.  S.  WOODSIDE,  Master  of  Transportation  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 

K.H.L.A.TROBE,  Late  CItiff  Engineer  "  " 

HEJ^RYTYSOTS!,  Master  of  Machinery  "  " 

.1  AMES  C.  CLARKi;,  Superintendent  Illinois  C.  Railroad. 

S.  .1.  HAYES,  Master  of  Marhinery  "  " 

MURRAY  &  HAZI.EHURST,  Machinists  and  Car  Builders,  Baltimore. 

I.  R.  TRIMBLE,  Ksq.,formerly  Superintendent  of  Phil.  Wilm.  <^  Bait.  Railroad. 

J.  T.  ENGLAND,  Baltimore. 


Jackson's  Self-Acting  Car  Brake.  25 

For  RAILKOAD  CARS,  OMNIBUSES,  FIEE  ENGINES,  &c. 

This  new  Invention  consists  in  Springs  acting  directly  upon  the 
Brake  Blocks.  These  Springs  are  shortened,  and  the  Brakes  relieved 
by  the  pulling  or  tractive  power  of  the  Engine — the  draught  power 
being  multiplied  to  any  required  extent,  by  means  of  a  lever  connected 
with  the  Car  Couplings;  the  play  forward  or  backward  of  the  coupling 
pin  putting  the  Brakes  up  going  ahead  or  backing,  as  the  traio  is  com- 
pressed or  extended  by  the  action  or  cessation  of  Steam  Power.  The 
nominal  state  of  this  Brake  is  doion,  and  that  of  the  Coupling  Pin  in 
the  centre  of  the  slot  in  the  Bumpers. 

The  peculiar  advantages  of  this  Brake  are — The  Engineer  has 
only  to  open  or  shut  his  Throttle  Valve,  to  control  the  Brakes — It  re- 
quires no  Brakesman  either  at  the  Engine  or  any  other  point  of  the 
train — Whenever  the  Locomotive  pulls.  Brakes  are  up,  and  as  soon  as 
steam  is  shut  off,  all  the  Brakes  in  the  train  are  instantly  clown — There 
is  no  extra  trouble  in  coupling  or  detaching  Cars — It  is  not  dependent 
upon  a  continuous  connection,  as  the  only  effect  of  a  detachment  is  to 
put  the  Brakes  down,  hence,  if  a  portion  of  a  train  gets  adrift  whilst 
ascending  a  gi-ade,  the  detached  portion  is  firmly  held,  and  does  not 
run  back  down  the  grade — The  Engine  can  be  reversed  with  the  Brakes 
up  or  down,  at  the  will  of  the  Engineer — If  an  obstruction  of  any  kind 
is  encountered  on  the  track,  day  or  night,  even  though  unseen  by  the 
Engineer,  every  Brake  goes  downjnstantly — It  will  stop  a  train  in  the 
shortest  safe  distance. 

The  mechanical  arrangements  and  drawings  of  this  Brake  were 
gotten  up  under  the  management  of  J .  Morris  Wampler,  Esq.,  Civil 
Engineer,  No.  22  Second  Street,  Baltimore. 

This  Brake  was  tested  on  the  Ellieott's  Mills  Train  of  the  Balti- 
more and  (3hio  Railroad,  and  the  novel  feat  successfully  performed  of 
running  a  train  of  Passenger  Cars  over,  up  and  down  grades,  stopping 
and  starting,  attaching  and  detaching  Cars,  without  a  Brakesman.  For 
further  particulars,  please  address 

W.  R.  JACKSON,  Patentee,  Baltimore, 
B.  P.  PATRICK,  Agent,  Chicago. 

Machinery  Department,  Balt.  65  Ohio  R.  R.  Co. 

February  12th,  1S5S. 
I  have  examined  the  Patent  Self-acting  Car  Brake  of  Mr.  W.  R.  Jackson,  of 
this  City,  placed  under  his  direction  upon  one  of  the  Cars  of  this  Company,  now 
running  from  Baltimore  to  Eiiicott's  Mills.  The  result  of  its  operation  has  been 
most  satisfactory,  the  train  being  retarded  when  necessary  by  the  Brakes,  which 
are  released  again  by  the  pulling  of  the  Engine.  The  arrangement  does  notintei- 
fere  with  the  ordinary  Hand  Brake. 

(Signed,)  HENRY  TYSON,  Master  ok  Machinkry, 

Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Co. 


26 


The  Railway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


EXPRESS  FORWARDERS, 

»ck  Association,  Organized  under  the  L( 
State  of  New  York : 

OFFICE,  164  BALTIMORE  STREET. 


A  Joint  Stock  Association,  Organized  under  the  Laws  of  the 
State  of  New  York : 


Possessing  unusual  facilities  for  the 

RAPID  AND  SECURE  CONVEYANCE 

OF  Parcels,   Packages,   Merchandise,   Bank   Notes,    Specie, 
Jewelry  and  all  descriptions  of  Freight  and  Treasure. 


f^V 


For  EUROPE,  BRITISH  NORTH  AMERICA, 

CALIFORNIA,  SOUTH  AMERICA,  CUBA, 


and 


.A^iuiL.  :e».a.:rts  oif  the  ■vsT'OI^XjID- 


In  all  the  principal  points  in  the  United  States,  and  proceeds  promptly 

remitted. 


DRAFTS  ON  ALL  PARTS  OF  EUROPE 

For  sale  at  all  the  principal  Express  Offices. 


Express  Freight  Line Patent  Agency. 


27 


BALTIMORE  &  OHIO 


€ne. 


BETWEEN 


THE  EASTERN  AND  WESTERN  MARKETS. 


Merchandize  by  this  Line  receipted  from  Baltimore,  Philadelphia 
and  New  York,  to  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  St.  Louis,  and  the  West 
generally — guaranteeing  delivery  within  a  specific  time,  and  through 
rates  per  100  pounds  to  destination. 


OmOES: 


BALTIMORE—Camden  Station. 
PHILADA.— Cor.  6th  &  Chesnut. 
NEW  YORK— 229  Broadway. 


CINCIN".— 54  Spencer  House  B'gs. 
LOUIS VILLE-23  WaU  Street. 
ST.  LOUIS--58  Commercial  Street. 


CHARLI 

.nieritan  ^  J'0rtign  ^^  at  cut  ^gtiit, 

Corner  of  7th  and  D  Streets, 

■\7s7"-A.si^iisra-T03sr  cit^st, 

IN  CONNECTION  WITH 

STA^SBURY  &  PITMAN,    .     .     .   London,     England. 

G.  "W.  YAPP Paris,        France. 

EUGENE  GUrLLERY, Brussels,  BelcxIlm. 

FREDERICK  PAGET, Vienna,      Austria. 

&c.,  &c.,  &c. 


Drawings  and  Specifications  prepared. 
Preliminary  Examinations  made. 
Rejected  Applications  prosecuted. 

Every  description  of  Patent  Business  attended  to 

S^-REFEEENCES  FURNISHED  IF  REQUIRED. 


Interferences  conducted. 
Foreign  Patents  obtained. 
Designs  Patented 


28 


The  Railway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


Baltimore  Piano  Works.  29 

«|®-G0L0  MEDAL  PREMIUM  PIANoTfORTES. 


WILLIAM  KNASE  & 


Nos.  1, 3,  5  and  7  North  Eutaw  Street, 

OPPOSITE  THE    EUTAW  HOUSE, 

AXD  AT   TILE  ' 

NEW  SALES  ROOMS,  at  No.  207  BALTIMORE  ST., 

Between  Charles  and  Light  Streets,  on  the  premises  partly  occupied  by  Mr.  Hk.n'ky  MiCaffrey 
as  a  Music  J^tore,  where  they  will  keep  constantly  on  hand  a  large  assortment  of  Plain  and' 
Highly  Finished  Grand  and  Sijuare  Piano  Fortes ;  also,  Melodeons,  from  the  best  makers  from 
4  to  5  Octave,  some  with  Double  Key-boards,  Double  Reeds,  and  Stops  to  suit  small  Churches 

Being  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  Piakos,  we  will  sell  Wholesale  and  Retail' 
on  the  most  liberal  terms.  ' 

t)ur  Pianos  were  awarded  the  Highest  Premium  (Gold  Medal)  at  the  Fairs  of  the  Man'land 
Institute,  three  successive  years,  October,  1885,  18Sb  and  185',  in  opposition  to  14  and  18  Pianos 
from  some  of  the  best  makers  from  New  York,  Boston  and  Baltimore.  We  were  also  awarded 
the  First  Premium  at  the  Industrial  exhibition,  held  in  Richmond.  Va.,  1855  and  1856.  Also 
at  the  third  exhibition  of  the  Metropolitan  Mechanics'  Insutute,  Washington,  D.  C,  March 
1817,  we  were  once  more  awarded  the  highest  honors.  '  ' 

In  addition  to  all  this,  we  select  the  following  letters,  from  among  the  many  highly  compli- 
mentary testimonials  we  are  in  possession  of,  from  the  most  distinguished  Pianists  and 
Amateurs  in  the  country. 

UI^The  following  from  the  most  eminent  Pianist  in  the  world,  will  show  how  our  Instruments 
are  appreciated  by  that  great  performer,  who  has  had  opportunities  for  testing  the  best  Pianos 
of  Europe  and  America  : 
Mb.  W.  Knabe,  Baltimore: 

Dear  Sir.— I  have  great  pleasure  in  certifying  that  I  have  tried  your  square  Pianos 
and  find  them  equal,  if  not  superior  to  any  in  this  country.  Among  their  great  qualities,  which 
distinguish  them,  is  the  evenness  of  tone,  the  agreeable  and  easy  touch^and  volume  of  tone 
Wishing  you  all  the  success  you  so  highly  deserve, 

I  am,  sir,  yours  very  truly, 

Baltimore,  Dec.  23, 185P.  ^^^_ ^  S.  THALBERG. 

To  Messrs.  Wm.  Knabk  k.  Co.,  Baliimort  : 

Gentlemen : — Permit  me  to  express  you  herewith  my  sincere  thanks  for  the 
superb  Grand  and  Square  Pianos  whicli  you  have  loaned  me,  and  on  which  I  have  perfonned 
at  ray  concerts.  I  cannot  but  congralulaie  you  upon  the  immense  progress  and  improvements 
you  continually  make  on  your  Pianos,  which,  in  my  opinion,  Tank  among  the  very  best  in  this 
country.  With  hearty  wishes  for  your  success  and  prosperity,  which  you  richly  deserve  by 
vour  enterprise,  energy  and  activity,  1  remain  yours,  very  truly. 

,„  MAURICE  STRAKOSCH. 

All  Instruments  are  guaranteed  for  five  year.c,  and  a  privilege  of  exchange  is  granted  within 
ihe  hrst  six  months  from  the  day  of  9a'e,  if  the  instrjmenls  do  not  give  entire  satisfaction. 
_  Wholesale  Dealers  will  find  it  to  their  advaniage  to  give  us  a  call  before  purchasing. 

^XT^PIA.NOS  exchanged,  hired  and  tuiicd.  '    "' 

WM.  KNABE  &  CO. 


30  The  Bailway  Celebrations  of  1857. 

EST.ABX.ISia:E3D,  1837. 

MUEPHY    &    CO. 


CXI 


oy 


^oobelkrs,  |^uWis|ers,  l^rmters  anb  Stationers, 

Marble  Building,  182  Baltimore  St.,  Baltimore. 

Have  the  pleasure  of  announcing,  that  they  have  removed  from  their  old  stand,  17S, 
to  the  new  and  spacious  five  story  Marble  Buildmg,  182  Baltimore  Street,  where 
they  are  constantly  enlarging  their  stock  and  variety  of 

BOOKS,  FAFEB,  BLANK  BOOKS,  STATIONEBY,  AND  FOBEIGN  BOOKS, 

And  continue  the  Printing,  Publishing  and  Book-Binding  departments  of  their 
business  on  a  more  extensive  scale. 

In  connection  with  the  foregoing  announcement,  they  beg  to  invite  attention  to 
their  Enlarged  Stock,  comprising  a  very  large  and  varied  assortment  of  BOOKS 
IN  GENERAL  LITERATURE,  in  every  variety  of  plain  and  superb  bindings, 
to  which  constant  additions  are  being  made;  New  Works  received  regularly. 
SCHOOL  and  CLASSICAL  BOOKS,  PAPER  and  STATIONERY,  comprising 
every  requisite  lor  Colleges,  Academies,  Schools,  &c.  Blank  Books,  Paper,  and 
Countino-House  Stationery,  Commercial  and  Law  Blanks,  &c.,  embracing  every 
requisite  for  Counting-Houses,  Banks,  Railroad  Companies,  Public  Offices,  &c. 

BOOK  and  JOB  PBINTING,  BOOK-BINDING,  &c. 

Having  united  with  their  Book  Store,  in  the  same  building,  an  extensive  Printing 
Office  and  Book-Bindery,  well  supplied  with  the  most  approved  materials  and 
experienced  workmen,  enable  them  to  ofler  superior  advantages  and  inducements 
for  the  prompt,  careful  and  correct  execution  of  every  description  of  Book  and  Job 
Printing,  Book-Binding  and  Ruling,  well  worthy  the  attention  of  all  who  may 
require  anything  in  this  line. 

Railroad  Printing,  Stationery,  &c. 

For  nearly  twenty  years.  Railroad  Printing  has  constituted  an  important  branch 
of  our  business — our  experience,  combined  with  extensive  facilities,  consisting  of 
large  founts  of  Types,  of  the  latest  and  most  approved  styles.  Borders,  E?igravings, 
Illustrations,  fc,  especially  adapted  for  the  i/iost  fniished  executioii  of  every  descrip- 
tion of  Railroad  Work.  Also,  large  founts  oi  Figures,  of  all  sizes,  suitable  for 
Tabular  Works,  Freight  and  Passenger  Tariffs,  &c.,  &c.  Our  Presses  and  other 
Machinery  are  of  the  most  approved  construction — keeping  constantly  on  hand  a 
large  stock  of  Card  Boards  and  PAPERS  oi  all  classes,  enables  us  to  ofler  unsur- 
jiassed  facilities  for  the  prompt,  cJtcap  and  finished  execution  of  every  description 
of  Railroad  Printing. 

RAILROAD  STATIONERY.— Onr  stock  in  this  line  embraces  every  requi- 
site for  Railroad  and  other  Joint  Stock  Companies,  Public  Offices,  &c.,  such  as  Blank 
Books  of  every  description,  kept  constantly  on  hand,  or  made  to  order,  with  or 
without  Printed  Headings,  to  any  style,  or  pattern  of  ruling,  in  a  superior  manner, 
at  the  shortest  notice,  and  at  the  lowest  rates.  Also,  a  large  stock  of  English. 
French  and  American  CAP,  LETTER  and  NOTE  PAPERS,  Envelopes,  Inks, 
Gold  and  Steel  1'ens,  &c.,  &c.,  all  of  which  we  are  prepared  to  sell  at  the  Very 
Lowest  Prices,  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

i^~Orders  respectfidiy  solicited,  to  which  the  most  careful  and  prompt  attention 
will  be  given.     tS^  Estimates  and  Specimens  furnished  on  opjilication. 

JOHN  MURPHY  &  CO. 


Baltimore  Trunk  Establishment. 


31 


.A.  1ST  ID 


CARPET  BAGS. 


The  Subscriber  is  the  Largest  Dealer  and  the  Oldest  Manufacturer 
of  the  above  Goods  in  this  City.  My  stock  on  hand  is  larger  than 
all  others  in  the  City,  among  which  are 

10  Qualities  of  SOLE  LEATHER  TRUNKS,  7  sizes  of  each. 


7 

"         WOOD  FOLIO             " 

5 

8 

"         LADIES'                       " 

5 

10          ' 

«         VALISES, 

6 

6 

'         PACKING                    " 

4 

20 

t'         GENTS'  TRAVEL'G  BAGS, 

8 

10 

''         LADIES'  SATCHELS, 

6 

Together  with  every  variety  of 
To  be  found  anywhere,  all 

AT 

J.  V.  D.  VAN  NORTWICK'S, 

No.  5  Sharp  St.,  2  doors  from  Baltimore  St., 

.  r  — 


Also  Manufacturer  of  the  Premium  Trunks  at  the  Exhibitions  of  the 
Maryland  Institute,  of  1855,  1S56  and  1857. 


32 


The  Bailway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


law^iDS^  m®wmm^ 


mi\m\  aiib 


The  Advocate  of  Industry,  Improvement  and  Enterprise. 
EICHARD  EDWARDS  and  EDWARD  J.  GAHEN, 

EDITORS  AND   PROPRIETORS, 
B-A.X.Ti:iS/IORE    .A-lSriD    ST.  3L.OXJIS. 


o      1^ 


3    P 


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2  O  > 

s  o  s; 

_2  E  o 


The  Journal  of  Proprress  is  allied  to  no  party.  It  maintains  as  political  principles,  the  Integrity 
and  Prosperity  of  theUnion,  and  the  Sovereignty  of  the  States,  according  to  the  conditions  and 
limitations  of  the  Federal  Constitution.  It  seeks  to  energise  these  principles,  by  increasing  inter- 
course between  all  sections  of  the  country,  and  developing  the  resources  of  the  South  and  West. 

The  .Tournnl  of  Progress  will  be  the  Commercial  and  Industrial  Organ  of  tlie  South  and  West; 
devoted  to  Kducalion.  Commerce,  Finance,  Trade,  Internal  Improvements,  Manufactures,  Agri- 
culture and  .Mining.     In  all  these  departments  its  columns  will  be  worthy  of  patronage. 

OPINIONS   OF  THE   PRESS. 

"All  men  of  business  can  learn  something  from  it " — Bait.  Sun. 
'•It  deserves  the  confidenci-  of  the  entire  community."' — Bait.  American.  April  lilh. 
"Of  great  merit  as  a  statistical  and  business  .loiirnal.'' — Spirit  of  tlie  Times,  Ports.  O. 
"  It  utsiifies  lis  name  as  a  '.Journal  of  Progress.""— ilie?npA/i  Daily  Aj>j>tal 
'■Tiioroughly  imbued  with  sound  conservative  principles. " — N.  O  Daily  Criole. 
"It  has  become  as  much  of  a  necessity  in  the  South,  as  our  own  Herald  is  in  ihis  country."' — 
2\Iisi.  Slates/nan. 
"A  most  valuable  guide  for  our  business  men.'"— O.Uo.^A  Wis.  Democrat. 
"It  is  a  complete  record  of  our  industrial  progress.'— C/iar/fjsron  Courier. 
"Our  best  »nd  most  welcome  e.xchange."' — Fort  Si/iitlt  Herald. 

[TJ'The  ".lournal  of  Progress'"  stands  pre-eminent  as  an  Advertising  Meiiium.  ft  has  a  con- 
stantly increasing  circulation  and  popularity  in  all  of  the  Southern  and  Western  States,  among 
the  Merchants,  ^lanufacture^s,  Planters,  Farmers,  .Mechanics,  and  business  men  generally. 

Our  Terms  are  in  all  cases  iusl  and  reasonable,  and  in  proportion  to  our  circulation,  and  ilie 
'.■onse<iuent  profit  likely  to  result  llierefrom,  so  as  to  enable  us  to  present  the  best  business  paper 
in  the  Union,  and  advertising  medium  for  the  Somhorn  and  Western  States. 

Ail  communications  should  b<;  forwarded  to  the  ".lournal  of  Progress,  Baltimore,  .Md."' 


Baltimore  Marble  Works.  33 


HTTGH  SISSON, 


*<v 


j^ttMUUf^ 


^^ 


^^\  GOI^aSTJBI^     OF 

MONUMENT  and  NORTH  STS., 
BALTIMORE,   MD. 

Keeps  on  hand,  and  makes  to  order,  at  the  shortest  notice,  and  on  the 
most  reasonable  terms, 

Marble  Mantels,  Monuments, 


/nrniture  $kk,  files  fnr  /l00nng, 


A^nsii  n^wiEi 


Can  be  supplied  at  all  times  with 

MANUFACTURED  WORK, 

MARBLE  IN  THE  BLOCK, 

OR  CUT  TO  SIZES, 

«^A.T    HEDUCED    PRICES."^ 

3 


34  The  Bailway  Celebrations  of  1857. 

E.  G.  LIND.  W.  T.  MURDOCH. 


Mmm  t  nvniPi 


if 


IT 


jA.nsriD 


SUPEEINTENDilJM  TS, 

Nos.  3  and  4  McEldowney's  Building, 

COBNER  OF  CHABLES  &  FAYETTE  STS., 
Bi^LTIMORE. 


GOULD    &  ^VV^ARD, 

IMPORTERS  AND  DEALERS  IN 


CLOCKS,  WATCHES,  JEWELRY, 

SILVER  AND  PLATED  WARE  AND  FANCV  GOODS. 

Also,  Nautical  Books,  Charts  and  Nautical  Instruments. 

Agents  for  the  Sale  of  Government  Charts. 

Chronometors  Rated  and  Repaired. 

Particular  attention  and  care  in  repairs  of  Fine  Watches,  Clocks,  Jewelry,  &c. 

All  kinds  of  Silver  Ware  made  to  order  at  short  notice,  at 

168  BALTIMORE  STREET, 

Sole  Agents  for  the  State  of  Maryland  for  the  Charles  Frodsham  Watches. 


The  Vulcan  Works.  36 

TAMES  MURRAY.  HENRY  R.  HAZLEHURST. 

MURRAY  &  HAZLEHURST, 

Ctoil  anb  Jlrcl)antcal 


num  wonKS, 

ill  descriptions  of  Railway,  Steam,  Marine  and  other  heavy  Machinery 
furnished  to  order.     Special  attention  paid  to 


c 


FOR  HAIIWAVS  AND  COMMON  ROADS. 

plans  anb  OCstimatts  Jjurnis^eb  upon  ^pplitation. 

DOUBLE  PLATE, 

SINGLE  PLATE, 

AND  SPOKE  CAR  WHEELS, 

Made  of  best  Baltimore  Iron. 


MADE  AT  SHORT  NOTICE. 


36 


The  Railway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


S|ffrtl5  to  be-  ^iiMis^eJy, 

In  about  30  Parts,  at  25  cents  each,  and  sup- 
plied to  Subscribers  only  by  appointed 
Agents  throughout  the  United  States, 

fi^SUPERBLY  ILLUSTRATED, 

With  over  300  Engravings — Views  of  Cities, 
Towns,  Public  Buildings,  Churches,  Railroad, 
River  and  Mountain  Scenery  in  the  United 
■(States — 

TH[  UND  W[  LIV[  IN 

Statistical  and  Historical 

Embracing  a  full  and  comprehensive  review 
of  the  History,  Progress,  Present  Condition, 
Commercial.  Railroad,  Manufacturing,  and 
Industrial  Resources  of  the  American  Con- 
fed  eeacy. 

{^^Communications  Respectfully  Solicited, 
which  may  be  forwarded  to 

J.  HENRY  MASON,  Assistant  Editor, 

Box  1,027,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Entered,  accordintr  to  Act  of  Congresa,  ia  the  year  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  fifty-seven,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  United  States  for  the  State  of  Maryland. 


WHOLESALE 

WAf€ 

AND 

Jfi!)flvi)g0ttse. 
HFIElMi.&CO. 

229  Baltimore  Street, 

BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Keep  constantly  on  hand  an  extensive  stock 
of  WATCHES,  JEWELRY,  FANCY 
GOODS,  SILVER  WARE.  DIAMONDS. 
PRECIOUS  STONES,  BRONZES,  CLOCKS, 
&c.     Also, 

■W'.A.TCHiy^ -A.  ITERS' 

Tools  and  Materials. 

I.  C.  Canfield,        Wm.  B.  Canfield, 
Jos.  H.  Meredith. ' 


SCALES  OF  EVERY  DESCRIPTION. 


SCALES  of  every  description  kept  constantly  on  hand,  which  will  be  sold  on 
better  terms  than  the  same  quality  article  can  bo  had  at  any  other  place.  In  all 
cases  where  the  article  purchased  does  not  prove  as  represented,  the  expense  of 
transportation  will  be  paid  and  the  purchase  money  refunded.     NO  HTJMBVG .'       | 

JESSE    M^RDEN, 
Comer  of  South  Charles  and  Balderston  Streets,  Baltimore,  Md. 


Iron  Warehouse 


-Gas  Fixtures. 


37 


1. 1.  p^iEim  1 18. 

Jlmporters  anb  Pcalcrs  in 


11 


No.  83  South  Charles  Street, 

BETWEEN  PRATT  AND  CAMDEN  STREETS,  BALTIMORE, 

Offer  for  Sale 


TIN  PLATE  of  every  description: 
TERNE  PLATE  for  Roofing; 
English   SHEET  IRON,  Nos.  10  to  27 
American  "  Nos.  14  to  28 

GALVANIZED'-  Nos.  IS  to  28 

RUSSIA  ■■'  Nos.  9  to  16; 

IRON  WIRE,  Nos.  0  to  35; 
TINNED  WIRE; 
SHEET  ZINC; 


SPELTER; 

Pig  and  Bar  LEAD; 

BANCA  TIN,  in  Pigs  and  Bars ; 

LEAD  PIPE  and  SHEET  LEAD; 

HOOP  IRON,  i  inch  to  2i  inches; 

TINMEN'S  TOOLS  &  MACHINES, 

BRASS  KETTLES; 

COPPER  BOTTOMS; 

RIVETS ;   KETTLE  EARS,  &c. 


GAS  FtTTtNG^  FIXTURES. 

BLAIR  &  CO. 

Manufacturers  and  Dealers  in 


•) 


Gas  Fixtures 

ISTo.  366 

WEST  BALTIMORE  STREET, 

Ad-joining  Etitaw  House. 


r     s^GAS   PIPES  INTRODUCED"^ 


By    Experienced   Workmen,    and    Wa>ra?it€d 
Free  from  Leaks. 


N.  B. — Re-Gilding,  Re-Bronzing  and  Six,- 
VERING  done  at  shortest  notice. 


38 


The  Railway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


i?aiMMS'  ssaffl 


J.I.W[$TOIIitO. 

41 

S.  CHABLES  STREET, 


The  Scales  have  been  subjected  to  the  severest  tests  in  all  the 
principal  Railroads  in  the  United  States  and  Europe,  and  in  every 
branch  of  business  throughout  the  World.     Their 

UNIFORM  ACCURACY  AlTD  GREAT  DURABILITY 

Have  gained  them  the  reputation  of  being  the 

STANDARD  FROM  WHICH  THERE  CAN  BE  ND  APPEAL. 

In  every  case  where  they  have  been  brought  in  competition  with  other 
Scales  they  have  received  the  first  premium. 

In  the  case  of  O'Brien  vs.  Reese,  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
(October,  1854,)  of  Baltimore  City,  the  learned  Judge  delivered  in 
open  Court  that  Fairbanks'  Scales,  being  the  Grovernment  Standard,  and 
their  accuracy  having  been  determined  beyond  all  question,  all  legal 
issues  must  be  decided  in  their  favor. 

Ji©*Ordcrs  for  Railroad,  Canal,  Hay,  Coal,  Cattle,  Ware- 
house, or  Counter  Scales  of  any  capacity  promptly  executed  at 
manufacturers'  prices. 


Maryland  Gas  Company Propeller  Line. 


39 


OF   THE 

JHttn)lanli  ^as  Compani)  of  laltimore. 

This  Company  is  now  offering  a  most  complete,  simple  and  efficient  Gas  Machine,  adapted 
in  all  respects  to  the  wants  of  Private  Dwellings,  Schools,  Churches,  Factories,  as  well  as 
Towns  and  Villages.  The  apparatus  is  easily  managed  by  any  domestic — Is  not  liable  to  get 
out  of  order,  and  will  furnish  a  c/iea77er.j3rf«!er  and  ftt«fr  ii'sr/iMhan  can  be  produced  from  any 
other  material.     Pamphlets  with  details  will  be  forwarded  by  mail  upon  application  to 

THE  OFFICE  OF  THE  COMPANY,  BANK  OF  BALTIMORE  BUILDING, 

Corner  of  Baltimore  and  St.  Paul  Streets,  Baltimore,  Maryland. 


Via  Delaware  &  Raritan  and  Chesapeake  &  Delaware  Canals, 

Comprising  SIXTEEN  STEAMERS  AND  BARGES— of  average  capacity  of  13U  Tons  each— 
for  the  Conveyance  of  Merchandise,  Produce,  Packages,  Horses,  Cattle,  Carriages,  Furniture, 
and  Goods  of  all  sorts,  at  very  low  rates.    {JQ^-Time  Through,  Forty-Eight  Hotms. 

FOR,     ISTE-VT"    "S-OPIIS:, 

A  Steamboat  leaves  Baltimore  Daily,  from  No.  3  LKiHT  STREET  WHARF. 

Fi^onvc    nsTE'^AT'   ■'Z'ORk:, 

A   Steamboat  leaves  in  like  manner  for  Baltimore,  Daily,  from  NORTH  RIVER,  between 

Pier  No.  7. 
J.  A.  SHRIVEK,  Agent,  No.  3  Light  St.  Wharf,  Baltimore. 
W.  DALZELL,  Agent,  42  West  St,  North  River,  N.  Y. 


BALTIMORE  AND  PHILADELPHIA  STEAMBDAT  COMPANY, 

VIA  CANAL. 

One  of  the  Company's  Steamboats  leaves  No.  3  Light  St.  Wharf,  Daily,  at  i  o'clock. 

Leaves  Daily,  at  3  o'clock,  from  No.  19  South  Wharves. 
J.  ALEX.  SHEIVER,  Agent,  No.  3  Light  St.  Wharf,  Baltimore. 
A.  GROVES,  Jr.,  Agent,  No.  19  South  Wharves,  Philadelphia. 


40 


The  Kailway  Celebrations  of  1857. 


O 

HI 
O 


.7 


CENTRAL  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
University  of  California,  Saji  Diego 

DATE  DUE 


mi  i->^^Q^ 


-^Y27  R-: 


^MV  2R  IGCf 


CI  39 


IBRARY  FACILI 


121      4 


UCSD  Libr. 


■2^ 


